Gerard Deulofeu says he comes back to Barcelona a “different player” after putting pen to paper on a two-year deal at the club’s offices on Friday.

Barca confirmed last month that they had exercised a €12 million buy-back clause to re-sign the winger from Everton having sold him to the Premier League side two years ago.

“I have always wanted to be here,” he told the club’s website. “I have had to work hard away from Barca, because it’s not easy to make the first team here, but I am really excited to come back.

“I am convinced that it will go well. I have changed a lot, I have had different experiences and I think I have improved as a person and a player. I’m a different player and I will try to help the team.

“I know there’s a lot of competition [for places] but I will work hard every day and try to learn from the best and help the team win titles.”

Deulofeu came through La Masia, before leaving for loan spells with Everton and Sevilla.

After returning from Sevilla, he did preseason with Luis Enrique’s Barca two summers ago but was then sold to Everton on a permanent basis.

He struggled for regular game time at Goodison Park, though, and it was in a six month loan with AC Milan earlier this year that he refund his best form and earned a return to Barça.

Molt feliç de tornar al @fcbarcelona ! Amb moltes ganes de començar aquest nou projecte!! Muy feliz de volver al @fcbarcelona , con muchas ganas de empezar este nuevo proyecto! #forçabarça Una publicación compartida de GERARD DEULOFEU (@gerardeulofeu) el 14 de Jul de 2017 a la(s) 4:40 PDT