Barcelona have confirmed an “agreement in principle” for the return of Dani Alves, who will become the first signing since Xavi Hernandez was appointed as the new first-team head coach.

It was recently revealed that Barcelona would be meeting with Alves to discuss his return to the club. He previously represented them between 2008 and 2016, establishing himself as one of the best right-backs of the modern era.

Barcelona published a statement announcing Alves’ return, which read: “FC Barcelona and Dani Alves have reached an agreement in principle for the player to join the football first team for the remainder of the current season.

“The Brazilian will be joining training from next week but will not be able to play until January.

“The club will announce the full details at his official presentation as a new FC Barcelona player.”

Alves left the door open for Barca to make their move, telling Sport in October that he would be willing to listen to offers.

He said: “It would sound very opportunistic to say that Barca need me now. I always said that I left because I saw things were not the way I thought they should be.

“You never want to see everything that [has] ended up happening since I left. I’ve said that when Barca need me and want me, I would be at their disposal regardless of where I am. The affection, love, and respect I have for this club is too much.

“If Barca think they need me, they just have to call me. I still think I can contribute anywhere, but more at Barca because of the number of young players that they have now.”

During his first spell, he won six LaLiga titles and three Champions League finals in that time as a team-mate of Xavi – who left the Camp Nou a year before the right-back did