Ricky Rubio and DKV Joventut parted ways on Tuesday when the Badalona club agreed to sell the Spain international to ACB rivals and defending champions Barcelona.

The 18-year-old playmaker, one of the most exciting talents ever in Spanish basketball, had hoped to play in the NBA after being drafted fifth overall this summer by the Minnesota Timberwolves but he wasn't able to meet the buyout clause in his contract with DKV.

Rubio has instead moved to Barcelona and signed a six-year contract, though his new employers have revealed that he does have an escape clause that will allow him to leave early for the NBA.

"Ricky Rubio has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave for the NBA from the second year," Barcelona said in a statement on the club's website.

"Barca have paid around 3.5 million euros to DKV Joventut."

Rubio is joining a Barcelona team that won the ACB title in the 2008-09 campaign and will play for coach Xavier Pascual.

The transfer means that Rubio will team up with fellow Spain guard Juan Carlos Navarro in the Barcelona backcourt next season.