Barcelona have agreed a €40 million deal with Guangzhou Evergrande for Brazil international midfielder Paulinho, Goal can confirm.
Goal revealed in June that the 29-year-old had emerged as a top target for the Camp Nou club.
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A protracted chase saw three offers from Catalonia knocked back, with the most recent of those totalling €25m.
Barca have refused to give up in their pursuit, though, and have now pieced together a package which meets the release clause in Paulinho’s contract.
The deal put in place will see the former Tottenham midfielder return to Europe after three seasons in China.
Having made a move in the summer of 2015, Paulinho won two league titles, two Super Cups, one domestic cup and the AFC Champions League during his time in Asia.
He will be hoping to add to that collection with Barca in 2017-18.
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Ernesto Valverde has invested a sizeable chunk of the funds brought in from the record-breaking €222m sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in Paulinho and will be demanding an immediate return.
The Samba star struggled to produce his best during a spell at Spurs between 2013 and 2015 but has enjoyed an upturn in form for club and country in recent times.
Bayern Munich were keen on snapping him up at one stage, with Carlo Ancelotti holding talks with the player, but no formal discussions were opened and Paulinho is now heading to Barcelona.
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