Brazilian international Paulinho has returned to Guangzhou Evergrande after one season at Barcelona.
The 29-year-old joined Barcelona last summer, featuring in 34 games in La Liga, scoring 9 goals and assisting a further three.
The midfielder's performances were deemed good enough by Brazilian manager Tite to include him in La Selecao's world cup squad, but it appears that the Barcelona hierarchy deem his services to be surplus to requirements and he will be sent back to China for a year-long loan deal worth a reported £44.2m - with an option to buy included.
“The level of the Super League has improved year by year and the development prospects are very good,” Paulinho said, according to the Guangzhou Evergrande website.