Barcelona activates buy-back on Deulofeu

Few footballers are afforded second chances.

Consider Gerard Deulofeu one of the lucky few, as the Spain Under-21 star will get another crack at life at Barcelona, with the Catalan club announcing Friday that it had exercised the buy-back option on his deal with Everton.

"FC Barcelona have activated the buy-back clause for Gerard Deulofeu. In the following days, the terms will be agreed with both Everton and the player," Barca's statement read.

"Deulofeu's contract will run until 30 June 2019."

After joining Barca's famed La Masia academy in 2003 aged 9, the winger made just two appearances for the senior side after a spell with the reserves, prompting subsequent loans on Merseyside and with Sevilla.

Deulofeu then agreed to permanent terms with the Toffees, enjoying a mercurial spell until he was found surplus to requirements under Ronald Koeman and shipped off to AC Milan for the second-half of the 2016-17 campaign. Deulofeu's return to form at the San Siro mirrored that of the Italian giant, sparking interest from the Catalan giant.

That interest has likely been boosted by Deulofeu's displays in Poland as part of Albert Celades' Spain U-21 side ahead of La Rojita's participation in Friday's Euro final against Germany.