Aron Pálmarsson, one of the best handball players in the world, has finally put an end to his prolonged transfer saga as he has completed a move to Spanish giants Barcelona. Aron had previously signed a contract for the club which was to start on the 1st of July 2018. Complications arose, however, Hungarian champions Veszprém.
Aron had not attended team practices at Veszprém as he had instructed his coach that he would not attend on 24th of July, 2017. Pálmarsson is thought to have acted in this manner to force a move to Barcelona, which his current employers did not take kindly to. The club had warned Aron that he could be facing a two-year ban from team handball. This would have been a heavy setback for the Icelandic national handball team, which has in recent years been among the world’s best.
Aron was part of the Icelandic team which took home the bronze medal in the 2010 European Championship in Austria. The 27-year-old centre-back has been a key player for his club and national sides for years. He has received awards such as the Bundesliga Rookie of the year in 2010 as well as being selected in the London 2012 Olympics All Star Team.
Aron has played for Veszprém since joining from German giants Kiel in 2015 but had grown disgruntled at the club. He led the Hungarian side to a domestic league title and cup double in both his years, as well as making it to the EHF Champions League Final Four two years in a row. The Hungarian side eventually succumbed to a silver medal in 2016 and a bronze one in 2017.
Barcelona has won the ASOBAL league title for seven years in a row while they look to push for a EHF Champions League victory with the addition of Aron. The team has been one of the world’s best for decades and Aron becomes the second Icelandic handball player to play for the side, following Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson. The football star Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen has previously played for the football team of Barcelona.
