Barcelona, Dec 27 (IANS) Barcelona on Thursday presented defender Jeison Murillo as a centre-back, the third Colombian player to join the Catalan giant, following in the footsteps of Lauro Mosquera and Yerry Mina.

The 26-year-old Murillo joins Barcelona on a loan from Valencia until the end of the season for reportedly 1.5 million euros ($1.71 million), reports Efe.

"It's a plus to be at the best Club in the world," Murillo said. "I hope to bring my experience to the League. It's a dream come true," he added at a press conference.

"I know that there are great players in this team and what I have learned is they're a great family too," Murillo said. "From now on I will train with the best and I hope to win many titles here."

Barcelona, which has conceded 19 goals this season, has been struggling with the central defender position in the wake of a knee injury that has kept Samuel Umtiti sidelined for a long time as well as the repeated muscle woes of Thomas Vermaelen.

"He is a player that adapts to the needs we had," said sports director and former player Eric Abidal. "He acts as a centre-back, but can also adjust to other positions."

Murillo, who played for Las Palmas, Granada and Inter Milan among others, hopes for a better fate than his fellow Colombians who had joined the northeastern Spanish club.

Having joined Barcelona in 1964, Mosquera played just one game, a friendly against Sabadell.

--IANS gau/sed