Deulofeu leaves Barcelona for Watford in €13M transfer

Gerard Deulofeu has ended his 15-year association with Barcelona to join Watford in a deal worth €13 million.

Both sides announced the move Monday, with Deulofeu agreeing to terms on a five-year contract with the Hornets.

Barcelona ensured it will receive a percentage of the 24-year-old's future transfer value, plus an additional €4 million in potential add-ons.

Deulofeu spent the second half of the 2017-18 campaign at Vicarage Road, but made just seven Premier League appearances because of an ankle injury.

It's his second stint in the English top flight following an intermittent spell at Everton between 2013 and 2017. Deulofeu was also loaned out to Sevilla and AC Milan during that time, and performed so well at the San Siro that Barcelona decided to activate its buyback clause last summer.

He represented the Blaugrana a further 17 times before heading to Watford on yet another loan deal.

"We are very pleased to welcome Gerard back to Vicarage Road and thank FC Barcelona for their part in concluding this deal," Watford chairman and CEO Scott Duxbury said in a statement. "Our ambition to succeed and grow in the Premier League remains as strong as ever."

Deulofeu, who initially joined Barcelona as a 9-year-old, is a tricky winger with superb dribbling ability and an eye for goal. He'll be expected to reinvigorate a frontline that struggled to score on a consistent basis towards the end of last season.