The former Arsenal defender has not been able to make his debut with Los Blaugranas, since he has not been fit to play ever since he arrived to the club.

Thomas Vermaelen's debut with Barcelona may have to wait until the 2015-16 season. The Belgian defender, who played his final league game with Arsenal last season, will have to undergo surgery to his right leg, and will be forced to work off the pitch for the next four months, Barcelona's medical services revealed today.

The former Arsenal player will be operated in Finland, having laureated doctor Sakari Orava in charge of the procedure. Orava is well known for his work with other sports stars, including footballers such as Pep Guardiola, Marco Van Basten and Didier Deschamps, among others.

Vermaelen, a player that has suffered throughout his entire career with injuries, joined Barcelona after Los Blaugranas paid ten million euros to Arsenal for the defender's services, plus 8.5 millions to be determined by a series of variables. Registered in La Liga with Number 23, the player's debut could happen in the next four to five months, just when the league's final matches are about to be played.