In an exciting development, La Liga champions Barcelona have officially announced the re-signing of Oriol Romeu, a former academy player, from Girona. The 31-year-old midfielder has committed to a three-year contract with the Catalan giants, marking a significant homecoming for him. Romeu originally emerged through Barca’s esteemed youth academy and made his debut for the senior team back in 2010. However, he subsequently moved to Chelsea in 2011, embarking on a journey that included loan spells at Valencia and Stuttgart before a fruitful seven-year stint at Southampton.
Having spent a productive year at Girona, where he played a pivotal role and accumulated over 3,000 minutes, guiding the team to a respectable 10th-place finish, Romeu is now set to make a triumphant return to Barcelona. As part of the deal, young midfielder Pablo Torre, aged 20, will be heading in the opposite direction, joining Girona on loan to gain valuable experience and playing time. Follow your favourite La Liga team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.
Barcelona expressed their belief that Romeu’s previous experience with the club, combined with his deep understanding of the style of play that Xavi Hernandez aims to implement, will make him an invaluable addition to the team. The club has immense confidence in Romeu’s abilities, particularly in the context of La Liga, and they anticipate him making an immediate impact upon his return. Notably, his contract includes a buyout clause worth an astonishing 400 million euros ($449.12 million), underscoring the high value the club places on his services.
The acquisition of Romeu comes at a time when Barcelona has been in search of a replacement for Sergio Busquets, who departed on a free transfer earlier this summer. While it remains to be seen if Romeu will be entrusted with the responsibility of filling Busquets’ shoes, he undoubtedly provides a cost-effective option for the team. Notably, Romeu joins Ilkay Gundogan, Vitor Roque, and Inigo Martinez as Barcelona’s new signings during the current transfer window. The addition of Romeu marks the fourth acquisition for Barcelona this season, following the arrivals of Gundogan and Martinez, with Roque set to join the club in the following year.
As Barcelona continues to strengthen its squad under Xavi’s leadership, the return of Oriol Romeu offers a boost in midfield depth and experience. Fans eagerly anticipate seeing the familiar face back in the iconic Blaugrana colors, as Romeu seeks to make his mark once again at the club where his journey began. Get the latest updates from the La Liga only on Nextbet Sports.
