Romeu returns to Barcelona on three-year deal

Barcelona have re-signed former academy player Oriol Romeu from Girona with the midfielder signing a three-year deal, the LaLiga champions said Wednesday.

Romeu came through Barca's youth academy and made his senior team debut in 2010 before moving to Chelsea a year later.

The 31-year old also had loan spells at Valencia and Stuttgart before spending seven years at Southampton.

He spent a year at Girona where he was a crucial figure clocking up more than 3,000 minutes to guide them to 10th before making his return to Barca, with 20-year old midfielder Pablo Torre moving the other way on loan.

"Romeu has great experience and knows the club from his previous spell as a Blaugrana and the style of play Xavi Hernandez wants to impress on his team," Barca said in a statement.

"The midfielder has shown what he can do in LaLiga and will look to perform right from the off."

The club have inserted a buyout clause of 400m euros ($449.12m) in his contract.

Romeu is Barca's fourth signing in the close season after Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez while Vitor Roque will join the club next year.