Football Transfer: Paulinho returns to China, to join Guangzhou Evergrande from Barcelona

Paulinho has left Barcelona to rejoin his former club Guangzhou Evergrande, the Chinese club have announced.

The Brazil midfielder is returning to China after one season at Barcelona, the Spanish champions said on Sunday. 

"FC Barcelona and Guangzhou Evergrande have reached an agreement for the loan transfer of Paulinho Bezerra for one season, with a mandatory purchase option for the Chinese club," Barca said in a statement on their website.

Paulinho, 29, scored nine goals in 49 appearances for the Catalans after signing for 40 million euros ($47 million) last August, helping them win the La Liga and King's Cup double.

He was part of Brazil's World Cup squad, scoring in their 2-0 group-stage win over Serbia. He also played 73 minutes of their 2-1 quarter-final defeat by Belgium before being replaced by goalscorer Renato Augusto.

The 29-year-old will return on loan after just one season in Spain, with no transfer fee announced.

He made 63 league appearances for Guangzhou Evergrande from 2015-2017.

Barcelona confirmed the deal on their website, adding that Guangzhou have an option to sign the former Tottenham man on a permanent deal.

He joined Tottenham for £17m from Corinthians in 2013, before moving to China in 2015.