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Arsenal and Barcelona have confirmed they have reached an "agreement in principle" over the sale of Cesc Fabregas to the Spanish club.

The 24-year-old Gunners captain is set to return to the team he left as a 16-year-old in 2003.

He will now discuss personal terms and undergo a medical on Monday.

"We understand Cesc's desire to move to his home-town club and have now accepted an offer from Barcelona," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

"We have been clear that we didn't want Cesc to leave and that remains the case.

"We thank Cesc for his contribution at Arsenal and wish him future success."

Barcelona have been chasing Fabregas since last summer and, as BBC Sport revealed on Friday, Arsenal will receive a guaranteed £30m with a further £5m dependent on the number of games played and trophies won by the Spaniard during his time at the Nou Camp.

News of the deal was confirmed at half-time in Barcelona's Spanish Super Cup game against Real Madrid.

Fabregas trained with his Arsenal team-mates for the final time on Friday morning and was not part of Wenger's squad for Saturday's Premier League opener against Newcastle, which finished 0-0.

The Spaniard, who has 58 caps for his country, made 303 appearances for the Gunners during his eight-year spell at the club, scoring 57 goals in all competitions.

He was named Arsenal captain in November 2008.