The Scarlets have won the battle for the prized signature of Liam Williams.

Wales’ full-back is out of contract with Saracens at the end of the season and has opted to return to the region he left in 2017 for a move to London.

It is understood a deal has been completed and there is no going back, scuppering the hopes of a number of clubs who had wanted to entice the 65-cap full-back their way.

The expectation is that Lions Test man Williams will command an annual salary of £400,000 or thereabouts.

His decision to head back to Wales isn’t just a boost for the Scarlets.

Wayne Pivac will also be glad to see the return home of one of the world's best players , allowing Williams to be available for every Wales training session and game. Had he stayed in England, that wouldn’t have been the case.

In that sense, it’s the perfect Christmas gift for Pivac.

With his exciting counter-attacking, fearlessness under the high ball and ability to rise to the big occasion, Williams offers a huge amount. Former Wales skipper Sam Warburton has said of him: "He's a modern-day JPR Williams, a cult hero."

The Waunarlwydd RFC product had been linked to the Ospreys, while Toulon also reportedly showed an interest .

But, ultimately, the 28-year-old opted to renew his association with the region for whom he played for six years before joining Saracens. Last season, he showed his worth with a series of outstanding displays and walked off the field a loser in just one of 23 matches.

See if Liam Williams makes it into our top 10 player rankings:

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His call leaves the Scarlets potentially with an embarrassment of riches in the back three, with Leigh Halfpenny, Johnny McNicholl, Steff Evans and rising star Ryan Conbeer on their books.

Halfpenny is out of contract at the end of the season and Evans is thought to be heading for similar status, and it will be interesting to see whether the west Walians opt to retain all their collection of back-three stars.

But that is for the future.

Right now, the capture of Williams is reaffirmation of the Scarlets’ ambition to be major players in European rugby.