Sevilla FC have begun preparations for the 2011/12 campaign by agreeing a reported €3m deal with FC Barcelona to make defender Martín Cáceres's loan move a permanent one.

The 24-year-old Uruguayan international impressed sufficiently during his 25 Spanish Liga outings for Sevilla last term to earn a contract until summer 2015. Cáceres, who is equally comfortable at right-back or centre-back, arrived in Andalusia last summer after a season at Juventus.

The former Defensor Sporting Club player first landed in Europe with Villarreal CF in 2007 and after a loan spell at RC Recreativo de Huelva he joined Barcelona for a reported €16m the following year. However, Cáceres managed only 13 Liga appearances under Josep Guardiola.

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist in their squad, Sevilla will compete in next term's UEFA Europa League play-off round following a fifth-place Liga finish.