FC Barcelona has reached a deal with Italian side AC Milan for the sale of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovich late on Saturday night.

The Swedish striker will spend this season on loan with AC Milan and the deal will be made permanent at the end of the current campaign with the Italian side paying 24 million euros (30.5 million U.S. dollars) for the player.

The agreement ends days of speculation over Ibrahimovich's future at the reigning BBVA Primera Liga Champions.

Barcelona and Milan have been negotiating the transfer since Wednesday and it was only a?matter of time before it was confirmed.

Ibrahimovich arrived at Camp Nou in the summer of 2009 in a deal that saw Samuel Eto'o move to Inter Milan. He enjoyed a good start to his Barcelona career, netting 12 league goals in the first half of the season.

However, following an injury the goals dried up and he netted on just four occasions in the closing half of the campaign.

He also had personal differences with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.