Barcelona have confirmed they have signed Gerard Deulofeu, after activating a buy-back clause in his contract at Premier League side Everton.
The Spanish forward enjoyed a loan spell at Goodison Park during the 2013-14 season, and the following summer he joined them in a £4.2million deal. But Barca still had belief in their youth product, and insisted on a buy-back clause should he progress as they imagined he would.
Although Deulofeu dropped down the pecking order at the Merseyside club in recent times – he spent the second part of last season on loan at Milan – Deulofeu is still regarded as a fine talent, and he has helped Spain reach the final of the Under-21 European Championships.
As Ernesto Valverde refines his squad after succeeding Luis Enrique as head coach at the Camp Nou, he has activated the clause to take the 23-year-old back to Catalonia on a two-year contract, a deal which is thought to have cost them a transfer fee of around £10.5million.
The statement from the Spanish giants read: “FC Barcelona have activated the buy-back clause for Gerard Deulofeu. In the following days, the terms will be agreed with both Everton and the player. Gerard Deulofeu’s contract will run until 30 June 2019.”
