Barcelona will complete the €40m signing of Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Paulinho on a four-year deal on Thursday, say reports.
Widespread speculation over the weekend reported the Brazilian international’s move to the Catalan giants was all but complete while Marca and El Mundo Deportivo both concur the deal will be made official on Thursday.
On Sunday, Guangzhou boss Luis Felipe Scolari confirmed the 29-year-old would be leaving the club to move to the Camp Nou.
A regular in Brazil’s team – scoring nine international goals in 41 caps – Paulinho was said to be a Barca target in 2013, but by that stage he already had an agreement in place to join Tottenham from Corinthians.
Since moving to China in 2014, Paulinho has helped his side to six trophies whilst strengthening his position in the Brazil national team.
Described as a box-to-box midfielder, he could be an ideal fit for the Blaugrana who are keen to add numbers to their first-team squad.
