Ben Barba has signed a one-year NRL deal to return to Cronulla, however he may not be able to begin training with the defending NRL premiers for up to four months.

The Sharks confirmed on Wednesday they had signed their premiership-winning fullback, a little more than two months after they released him following his second positive test to illicit drugs within a year.

However his contract will have to be registered by the NRL, who will need to be convinced that he has undergone enough steps to be rehabilitated to return to the game after copping a 12-game ban at the end of last season that will rule him out until June.