Spanish Midfielder Romeu Returns to Barcelona on Three-Year Deal 

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu attends a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on July 19, 2023. (AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu attends a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on July 19, 2023. (AFP)
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Spanish Midfielder Romeu Returns to Barcelona on Three-Year Deal 

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu attends a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on July 19, 2023. (AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu attends a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on July 19, 2023. (AFP)

Barcelona has re-signed former academy player Oriol Romeu from Girona with the midfielder signing a three-year deal, the LaLiga champions said on 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 400 million euros ($449.12 million) 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.



Al-Ittihad Beats Al-Shabab 3-2, Qualifies for King's Cup Final

Al-Ittihad will face the winner of Wednesday's match between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Raed. SPA
Al-Ittihad will face the winner of Wednesday's match between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Raed. SPA
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Al-Ittihad Beats Al-Shabab 3-2, Qualifies for King's Cup Final

Al-Ittihad will face the winner of Wednesday's match between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Raed. SPA
Al-Ittihad will face the winner of Wednesday's match between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Raed. SPA

Al-Ittihad qualified for the final of the 2024-2025 King's Cup after defeating Al-Shabab 3-2 in a match on Tuesday at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

Al-Ittihad will face the winner of Wednesday's match between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Raed in the other semifinal.