Rubin Kazan to sign Song from Barcelona after agreeing to deal

Rubin Kazan has a "preliminary" agreement in place to sign midfielder Alex Song from Barcelona, pending a medical, according to a club statement Thursday.

Song, who spent the past two seasons on loan at West Ham, is expected to join the Russian outfit on a free transfer.

"FC Rubin announce reaching preliminary agreement ahead of signing Alex Song," read a message on the club's Twitter account, as translated by ESPN FC.

The 28-year-old failed to consolidate a spot in Barcelona's lineup following a £15-million move from Arsenal in 2012.

He made 17 La Liga starts in his first season at Camp Nou but enjoyed less time on the pitch during the 2013-14 campaign. A sojourn in east London surprised onlookers, and while he was a protagonist in the 2014-15 term for the Hammers, he fell completely out of favour under Slaven Bilic last season.

The Cameroon international still had a year left on his Barcelona contract, although manager Luis Enrique made it clear that Song had no place in his plans when he omitted the player from preseason training.