"?Attacking midfielder Mario Gotze has attempted to placate sceptical fans at Borussia Dortmund as he returns to the club after leaving for Bayern Munich in acrimonious circumstances in 2013.
The German has re-joined his boyhood club for a fee reported to be around £22m. The 24-year-old had joined Dortmund's great rivals three years ago after they bid €37m to activate his release clause, though the move was extremely unpopular with Dortmund supporters at the time.
The Germany international took to social media to explain his decision to return to the club, with a post on his Facebook page.
He wrote: "When I switched to Bayern in 2013 it was a conscious decision which I will not hide myself behind. Today, three years later and at 24, I look at that decision in a different light. It was not a decision I would make today."
The circumstances mean that he may get a mixed reception, but Gotze referred to the club as his "home" and said that he will try to convert those that "do not welcome me with open arms".
Despite Pep Guardiola's best efforts, Gotze never reached the heights that were expected of him in Bavaria, though he did score the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina.
He will be a direct replacement for Henrikh MKhitaryan at the Westfalenstadion, the Armenian midfielder left Dortmund to join Manchester United.
Gotze would have had his pick of clubs around Europe, with Liverpool and ex-manager Jurgen Klopp thought to be interested - with him being young enough to still fulfill his potential - though Bayern's chances of keeping him were reduced with only a year left contractually.
Welcome back ????? @MarioGoetze