Still a bit sluggish in the transfer market, although we are starting to see some bigger deals coming through. Once again however a lot of the moves are outgoing, with Cazorla being transferred to Arsenal and Rondón on his way to Rubin Kazan as Málaga's Middle East shareholders go AWOL. Pellegrini is also reported to be leaving as rumours fly about a possible sale of the club, and others could be on their way as well to pay off outstanding debts. Meanwhile Villarreal have offloaded some of their more expensive players in preparation for a season out of the top flight, with Nilmar going to Al Rayyan, and Borja Valero and Gonzalo signing for Fiorentina. Michu, Kalu Uche, Salvio, Valdo, Iván Ramís, Escudé and Nekounam will also be leaving La Liga this summer, amongst others. Gago will be returning though, even though his final destination will be Valencia and not Real Madrid, and Capdevila is back at Espanyol after an unhappy spell at Benfica. Elsewhere clubs such as Sevilla, Zaragoza, Real Sociedad, Deportivo, Granada and Valladolid have all been active in the last few weeks, and we expect to see more movements in the next fortnight or so as the August transfer deadline approaches. (04.08.12)
Player (Country) | Current club | New club | Position/Comments |
Cazorla | Málaga | Arsenal (ENG) | MF Forced to sell star player to help pay off debts. Reported fee of 15 Mio for him to move to Premier League. |
Nilmar (BZL) | Villarreal | Al Rayyan (QTR) | FW Had to move on after club relegated. Close to returning to Brazil, but in the end accepted big offer from Qatar. |
Borja Valero / Gonzalo (ARG) | Villarreal | Fiorentina (ITA) | MF / DF Offloading most expensive players, and both on their way to Tuscany for joint fee of around 10 Mio. |
Michu | Rayo Vallecano | Swansea (WAL) | MF Several clubs wanted to sign him, but in the end joins Laudrup for fee of around 2.5 Mio. |
Kalu Uche (NIG) | Espanyol | Kasimpasa (TKY) | FW Striker moves on after only 6 months at club. Fee of 1.5 Mio shared 50/50 with player. |
Salvio (ARG) | Atlético Madrid | Benfica (POR) | FW Simeone decides to keep Raúl García, so Savio has to move on to raise cash. Rejoins club where he was on loan, signing 5 year deal. |
Valdo | Levante | Atlante (MEX) | MF Experienced Cape Verdi midfielder out of contract, so decides to try his luck in Mexico. |
Iván Ramis | Mallorca | Wigan (ENG) | DF Roberto Martínez got ahead of West Ham to sign central defender. Paid around 6 Mio for him. |
Escudé (FRA) | Sevilla | Besiktas (TKY) | DF Leaves on free transfer after 7 years at club to save costs. Guarente also loaned out to Bolonia. |
Nekounam (IRN) | Osasuna | Esteghlal (IRN) | MF Has been under pressure to return home, and club allowed him to move on a year before contract ended. |
Gago (ARG) | Real Madrid / Roma (ITA) | Valencia | MF Roma decided not to take up buy-out option, so Ches step in to sign him for around 3.5 Mio. |
Canales | Real Madrid | Valencia | MF Had agreed to renew loan after injury struck season, but in the end stumped up 7.5 Mio to keep him on permanent basis. Madrid keep buy-back option for 2 years. |
Capdevila | Benfica (POR) | Espanyol | DF International left back returns to old club after unsuccessful spell in Portugal. |
Kondogbia (FRA) | Lens (FRA) | Sevilla | MF Have signed the man who missed the last penalty for France in U19 Euro final! Signs for 5 years. |
Cicinho (BZL) | Palmeiras (BZL) | Sevilla | DF Paid 2 Mio for full back, who joins on 4 year deal. Not to be confused with the Cicinho who played for Real Madrid, Villarreal & Roma! |
Romaric (IVC) | Sevilla / Espanyol | Zaragoza | MF Waives debt of 200k to obtain free transfer after loan at Espanyol. Signs for 3 years. |
Loovens (HOL) | Celtic (SCO) | Zaragoza | DF Another who arrives free of charge after contract ended at Celtic. Two year signing, with option of third. |
Apoño | Málaga | Zaragoza | MF Came to an agreement to make loan move permanent, fee of around 1 Mio for 3 year contract. |
Lucas Porcar | Villarreal B | Zaragoza | MF Have tied up talented youngster for 4 years, but still unclear whether Villarreal retain part of transfer rights. |
Javi Alamo | Recreativo | Zaragoza | MF From the Davy Crocket school of football? Jiménez chasing him for some time, and joins for 4 years. |
Carlos Vela (MEX) | Arsenal | Real Sociedad | FW Caused great impression during loan move last season, and have agreed terms with Arsenal to keep him. Signs for 4 years. |
José Angel | Roma (ITA) | Real Sociedad | DF Have signed ex Sporting Gijón left back on loan, although almost lost him to Valencia. |
Nelson Oliveira / Roderick (POR) | Benfica (POR) | Deportivo | FW / DF Two youth internationals arrive on loan, making it 7 Portuguese players in the squad. |
Abel Aguilar (COL) | Hércules | Deportivo | MF Have been trying for some time to sign him, and finally got their man after Hércules decided he was too expensive to keep. |
El-Arabi (MOR) | Al-Hilal (SAA) | Granada | FW Paid 5 Mio to Saudi club for ex Caen striker, highest fee in their history. Signs for 5 years. |
Machis (VEN) | Mineros de Guayana (VEN) | Granada | FW Have signed young forward on 5 year deal, although could be loaned out to gain experience. |
Ebert (GER) | Hertha Berlin (GER) | Valladolid | MF Ex youth international colleague of Özil & Khedira joins newly promoted club on free transfer. |
Neira (ARG) | Gimnasia y Esgrima / Lanús (ARG) | Valladolid | FW Forward joins on loan with buy-out option at end. Was on loan at Lanús last season. |
Rukavina (SER) | Munich 1860 | Valladolid | DF Djukic knows fellow countryman from time with U21, and brings him to Pucela on free transfer. |
Lluis Sastre | Huesca | Valladolid | MF Brother of ex Sporting player out of contract, and will try his luck in top flight. |
Karabelas (GRE) | AEK Athens (GRE) | Levante | DF Euro-signing for Euro-Levante! Greek left back signs two year contract. |
Diop (SEN) | Racing Santander | Levante | MF Experienced midfielder out of contract, and joins Euro-Levante on 3 year deal. |
Xavi Torres | Levante | Getafe | MF Wasn't happy that Levante took up buy-out option from Málaga, and finally gets move he wanted to Getafe. |
Llorente | Real Sociedad | Osasuna | FWMontanier has no room for him after recovering from injury, so moves down the road on one year loan deal. |
Abel Gómez | Granada | Córdoba | MF Club didn't renew his contract, so agrees to move to neighbours on 3 year deal. |
Calahorro | Betis / Xerez | Alcorcón | DF No place after loan spell at Xerez, so agrres to move on. Alcorcón also sign Kike lópez from Tenerife. |
Rochela | Deportivo | Racing Santander | DF Take youngster on one year loan, and have also signed Dani Bautista, ex Almería free agent. |
Ben Sahar (ISR) | Espanyol / Auxerre (FRA) | Hertha Berlin (GER) | FW Not wanted by Pochettino, so agrees move to help German side regain place in Bundesliga. |
Yoel | Celta | Lugo | GK Young keeper moves on loan to newly promoted neighbours to make space for Javi Varas. |
Nicolás Cañizares | Rayo Vallecano | Juventus (ITA) | DF Another flying the nest! Sixteen year old had offers from Madrid and others, but opted for 5 year deal in Italy. |
Fabinho (BZL) | Rio Ave (POR) | Real Madrid Castilla | DF Under 20 right back moves from Fluminense via Rio Ave. One year trial period before making final decision about transfer. |
Araújo (ARG) | Boca Juniors (ARG) | Barcelona B | FW Youth international striker moves on loan with 8 Mio buy out option. Will start in B team. |
Pablo Alvarez | Deportivo | Lugo | MF Contract not renewed, so takes up offer to return to club where he started 14 years ago. |
Cá / Lé (POR) | Sporting Lisbon (POR) | Barcelona B | MF Signed two of the U-19 internationals who played recently against Spain. |
Orbaiz | Athletic Bilbao / Olympiacos (GRE) | Rubin Kazan (RUS) | MF Ex Spanish international returns from loan, but agrees free transfer move to Russia as Bielsa doesn't want him. |
Zubiaurre | Athletic Bilbao | Salamanca | DF Third loan deal for full back, who has had a torrid time since controversial move from Real Sociedad. |
Raúl | Schalke '04 (GER) | Al Sadd (QTR) | FW Raúl following in footsteps of Guardiola and others, playing out his career in the Middle East. |
Fran Mérida | Atlético Madrid | Hércules | MF Has given up trying to hold down first team place, and agrees to 4 year move to Alicante. Cabrera also goes on loan, and Portillo signed from Las Palmas. |
Matilla | Betis | Murcia | MF Only joined last year from Villarreal, but Pepe Mel decides to loan him out to Murcia. |
Ezequiel | Betis / Sabadell | Freiburg (GER) | MF Promising youth international joins German club on loan after short trial period. |
Català | Celta | Larnaca (CYP) | DF Told by his coach he would have to move on to make room for more attacking players, so takes up offer of 3 year deal from Cyprus. |
Ustari (ARG) | Getafe | Boca Juniors (ARG) | GK Couldn't win back his place from Moyà last season after injury lay-off, so agrees loan move back to old country. |
José Juan | Granada | Lugo | GK Keeper out of contract this summer, and joins newly promoted side to replace Rivas, who moves to Elche. |
Ikechi Anya (SCO) | Granada / Cádiz | Watford (ENG) | FW Young Scottish striker was on loan last year at Cádiz, and will be loaned back out to Watford. |
Jofre | Valladolid | Girona | MF Out of contract, and moves closer to home on one year contract. Eighth team he has played for. |
Casquero | Getafe | Almería | MF Ex Sevilla midfielder had to move on after contract not renewed. At 36, still has a couple of seasons in him! |
Iván Piris (PAR) | Sao Paulo (BZL) | Sevilla | DF Got fed up with pushy agent, so decided to call deal off in the end. |