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Barcelona transfer news: Former Tottenham flop Paulinho signs for Barca in £36.5million deal from Guangzhou Evergrande

The 29-year-old swaps the Chinese Super League for La Liga as the Catalan club make first signing after selling Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain

BARCELONA have completed the signing of former Tottenham flop Paulinho from Guangzhou Evergrande.

The 29-year-old is believed to have moved for a fee of £36.5million as he swaps the Chinese Super League for La Liga.

 Paulinho signs for Barcelona from Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande
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Paulinho signs for Barcelona from Chinese Super League side Guangzhou EvergrandeCredit: Rex Features
 The 29-year-old flopped at Tottenham, but re-invented himself in China
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The 29-year-old flopped at Tottenham, but re-invented himself in ChinaCredit: Getty - Contributor

It was revealed yesterday that Paulinho would be Barca's first signing since selling Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee of £198m.


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Ernesto Valverde has been tracking the Brazilian midfielder all summer, where they saw an offer of £17.5m knocked back.

According to the Daily Mail, the Copa del Rey champions have finally secured his services as he returns to Europe after leaving in 2015.

Last week SunSport reported that the Catalan club were in 'advanced negotiations' to bring the former Corinthians man to the Nou Camp.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo back in July, Paulinho said: "It is a unique opportunity for me to be able to play for Barcelona, the best team in the world and surrounded by the best players.

"I have to talk to my president, since I got the proposal I have not stopped thinking about it and I am waiting for everything to be resolved this week."

 The Brazilian midfielder is reported to have completed his move to Barca in a deal worth up to £36.5m
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The Brazilian midfielder is reported to have completed his move to Barca in a deal worth up to £36.5mCredit: Reuters
 Paulinho left Europe in 2015 after he left Spurs after just two seasons
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Paulinho left Europe in 2015 after he left Spurs after just two seasonsCredit: AFP or licensors

The Chinese club were reluctant to sell their prized asset, and even proposed shipping him off next January - which was completely rebuffed by Barca.

Since leaving Spurs in 2015 after just two years at White Hart Lane - he was sold to Evergrande for just £10m.

He re-invented himself in the Far East under the guidance of former Brazilian national team manger Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Paulinho won back-to-back league titles with the Southern China Tigers, as well as capturing the coveted AFC Champions League crown.

His startling form earned him a recall for the national side, where he netted against Argentina in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, and also grabbed a hat-trick against Uruguay in a 4-1 rout.


 The former Corinthians ace has been an influential member of the Chinese Super League side where he has helped them to back-to-back titles
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The former Corinthians ace has been an influential member of the Chinese Super League side where he has helped them to back-to-back titlesCredit: EPA

It is the first piece of business the Spanish outfit have carried out since losing Neymar to PSG.

They remain locked in talks to sign Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool who has handed in a transfer request to leave Anfield.

While they are set to offer Borussia Dortmund £110m for Ousmane Dembele, with the winger looking likely to leave Germany after being fined and suspended for skipping training.

However, should they fail to bring in either player, they will turn to Manchester United target Ivan Perisic.

Inter Milan are believed to be holding out for £50m - a significantly cheaper alternative to Coutinho and Dembele.


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