BARCELONA -- Gerard Deulofeu will play until the end of the season at Watford in the Premier League, backed by his new coach Javi Gracia and in a loan that does not involve any purchase obligation on the part of the English club, which will pay his salary and has committed to pay Barcelona 1 million euros depending on the performance of the player.

Deulofeu's departure, expected for weeks, is the fourth in this winter market and confirms the power acquired by Ernesto Valverde in the club, which had to settle for a simple loan as it was unable to sell the player as desired.

Barcelona started the winter market hopeful of earning the 20 million euros that were the release clause of the forward, but as the weeks went by and understanding the impossibility of getting such a advantageous transfer, they lowered their demands to 12 million, the same amount they paid Everton in the summer of 2017 for his signing.

Napoli showed some interest in his incorporation but did not want to discuss a transfer or a loan with a subsequent purchase obligation. Similarly, Milan, where he played 18 games last season, ruled out his signing.

Finally, Watford, which has only won 1 of the last 11 games in the Premier League, called on Barcelona, with the consent of Deulofeu himself, and made his transfer under the desired conditions by the English team.

The player, who is close to turning 24, has a contract with Barcelona until June 2019 and leaves the club for the third time, the second after starting to work with the first team. In 2014, he barely lasted two weeks under the command of Luis Enrique, and now he has lasted half a season with Ernesto Valverde before packing his bags again.

Deulofeu, highly valued by Julen Lopetegui, maintains a minimal hope of joining the Spanish national team at the World Cup in Russia and performing well at Watford could benefit him... Although in the context of Barcelona, his future is already seen as discarded, and the resolution of his contract is moved to the summer of 2018.