Spanish Midfielder Romeu Signs Three-Year Deal to Return to Barcelona

 

Barcelona announced on Wednesday that they have re-signed former academy player Oriol Romeu from Girona on a three-year contract. Romeu, who made his senior team debut for Barca in 2010 before moving to Chelsea a year later, returns to the LaLiga champions at the age of 31. During his career, he also had loan stints at Valencia and Stuttgart, and spent seven years at Southampton.

During his time at Girona, Romeu played a vital role, accumulating over 3,000 minutes and helping the team secure a 10th-place finish. Now, he is back at Barca, with 20-year-old midfielder Pablo Torre moving the other way on loan.

Barca emphasized Romeu's vast experience and familiarity with the club's style of play, which aligns with the vision of Xavi Hernandez, the team's coach. They believe the midfielder, who has showcased his talent in LaLiga, will make an immediate impact.

Notably, the club has included a buyout clause of 400 million euros ($449.12 million) in Romeu's contract. He becomes Barcelona's fourth signing of the close season, following Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez, with Vitor Roque set to join the club next year.