Barca confirm Paulinho signing

File photo shows Club America's Rubens Sambueza and Evergrande's Paulinho (C) in action during the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015 Quarter-final match at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan, December 13, 2015. [Photo/VCG]

MADRID - FC Barcelona on Monday confirmed the 40 million euro signing of Brazilian international midfielder Paulinho Bezerra from Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande.

The 29-year-old, who has represented his country on 41 occasions, has agreed a four-year-deal with Barcelona and becomes their third signing of the summer after Gerard Deulofeu and Nelson Semedo. He will officially be presented to the press and public on Thursday.

The club has now spent a total of 82 million euros this summer, after earning 222 million from the sale of Neymar to Paris Saint Germain.

Paulinho arrives a day after Barca were beaten 3-1 at home to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup; a game which highlighted the difference in the strength in depth currently between the two squads.

Barcelona are expected this week to step up their persuit of Phillipe Coutinho and Ousemane Dembele as they look to replace Neymar, whose absence was keenly felt during Sunday night's defeat.