Joan Verdu has signed for Espanyol after being released by Deportivo.

The midfielder had an impressive season at Depor, but failed to come to an agreement with the club's directors over renewing his contract, which expires on 30 June.

Espanyol today confirmed Verdu has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at the Estadi RCDE.

It is a return to the city for the 26-year-old, who progressed through the ranks at Espanyol's bitter rivals Barcelona but never properly broke into the first team and moved to Deportivo in 2006.