Fans who have been missing Sonny Kiriakis (Freddie Smith) on Days of Our Lives have reason to be even more ecstatic about the character's return to the canvas this July, because not only is he coming back, but he's going to be around to stay for a little while.

News has broken that Smith was brought back on contract, meaning he would be sticking around this time, after his character first exited last spring, then briefly returned for a few episodes in the fall after his on-screen husband, Will (Guy Wilson) was murdered by Ben Weston (Robert Scott Wilson), during his spree as the Necktie Killer.

"We are so excited that Freddie is now able to announce that he is back at #Days on contract," a post on his Facebook fan page states.

With a contract role, it means Sonny will be around to stay, and should get some good storylines. And though the specific ones can't all be revealed, there is a chance that his one time romance with Paul (Christopher Sean) could be rekindled since Sonny is now single.

"Sonny returns to Salem to help his family through tough times and his relationship with Paul [Christopher Sean] grows," Days executive producer Ken Corday says. "Paul will be coming more to the foreground with Sonny back in town."

Smith is expected to return in July, just in time for initial rumors which stated that the Summer episodes would see Paul in a hot hook-up, after his character pretty much went into a romantic drought after Will's death, Sonny's departure, and Derrick's disappearance. With Sonny's return, it appears his hot hook-up that has been teased will be with his one-time flame, and could help Paul out of the slump he's been in since he was rescued from Yao Ling, who tries to brainwash him and then made him the carrier for a virus which recently made the rounds through Salem and killed a few people.

Days of Our Lives airs Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. on NBC.