Christina Aguilera is returning to The Voice. The pop diva will reclaim her judge's chair on the next season of the singing contest, ousting current mentor Shakira.

A mole told The Wrap that former panelist Christina - who left the show in 2012 after three seasons to promote her latest album LOTUS - is expected to return this autumn after signing a deal worth a rumored $17 million.

It is as yet unclear whether Cee Lo Green, who also departed last year, will be returning alongside Christina or whether his popular replacement, Usher, will stay on.

The current line-up of NBC's singing competition, which also features Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, has proved a hit with audiences and ratings are at an all-time high. Producer Matt Burnett confirmed Shakira's departure and explained change was a natural progress when working with successful recording artists: "Everybody can't coach for life because when you have people with current recording in the game, this is not their job. Their job is their fans and making music and being live, and so we knew from the beginning that this would happen, and we've had six coaches. They all have another life and their schedules."