Boca Juniors confirmed the return of midfielder Leandro Paredes from AS Roma, ending weeks of negotiations with a deal valued at just under €3.5 million that can rise to the full amount through performance-based add-ons. The 31-year-old 2022 World Cup winner signed a contract running to December 2028, giving the Argentine giants a long-term anchor in midfield. Paredes landed in Buenos Aires on 9 July and passed his medical examinations on Wednesday. The club will unveil him at La Bombonera on Thursday at 18:00 local time, with free entry for supporters. Speaking ahead of the presentation, Boca president Juan Román Riquelme welcomed the player “back home,” while Paredes said his “desire was always to return in good condition.” The move ends more than a decade in Europe for the San Justo-born playmaker, who left Boca in 2014 before spells at Roma, Zenit, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. He becomes the sixth member of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup squad now playing in the domestic league, underscoring the trend of high-profile repatriations. Boca expect Paredes to be available for selection once he regains match fitness, potentially as early as their 18 July league fixture against Unión.