Rakitic returns to Sevilla from Barcelona for initial €1.5M fee

Ivan Rakitic is returning to Sevilla following a celebrated six-year spell with Barcelona.

Sevilla confirmed Tuesday that an agreement has been reached with Barcelona as Rakitic put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the club he starred for between 2010-14.

The Europa League winners paid an initial €1.5-million fee for the 32-year-old Croatian international in a deal that includes an additional €9 million in potential performance-related clauses, per Barcelona's statement.

"FC Barcelona publicly expresses its gratitude to Rakitic for his commitment and dedication and wishes him good luck and success in the future," Barcelona's statement read.

Reports suggest Rakitic is taking a pay cut to enlist with the team he captained to Europa League glory in 2013-14 before moving to the Catalan capital the ensuing summer.

The World Cup finalist leaves Barcelona after pairing 35 goals and 42 assists in 310 appearances in all competitions. Rakitic amassed similar totals over four seasons with Sevilla (32 goals, 41 assists) but in only 149 outings.