Nabil Fekir, French world cup winning midfielder has completed a surprising transfer from Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon) to Real Betis Balompie.
The 26-year-old midfielder has relocated to the Benito Villamarin Stadium after an 8-year stint with the Lyon’s.
As per the club’s official Twitter post, Nabil Fekir has signed a 4-year contract in Andalusia.
Real Betis is trying to turn the tables right now. The Seville-based football club has recently signed a three-year sponsorship deal with online broker easyMarkets for an estimated €2 million per season. The new 3-year shirt sponsorship will have the team flaunting Green and White jersey with the broker’s logo in the front.
The Frenchman has left Lyon for Real Betis, a year after missing Liverpool transfer. He was the subject of keen interest from Liverpool last season, but he eventually remained in Lyon.
Last year, he came close to signing a £70m deal with Liverpool. However, the negotiations broke down when Fekir went to Anfield for the medical.
The French football club wanted to make some money off Fekir this summer with the fear of losing him on a free transfer next year. Hence, they had offered him to the likes of Valencia and Sevilla. Moreover, Napoli was also linked with Fekir recently, but it was Real Betis who finalized the deal.
With the Frenchman moving to Real Betis, it has cast doubt on Giovani Lo Celso’s Betis future. He is currently playing for English club Tottenham Hotspur as a midfielder, on loan from Betis. This means Tottenham is moving closer to Lo Celso with this transfer.
According to the reports, Lyon has accepted an £18m (€20m) from Real Betis Balompie for Fekir, and he underwent a medical last month. The club said he had been transferred to Real Betis with up to £8m in incentives and a 20% incentive of the capital gains earned on the future transfer.
The French midfielder is Real Betis’ fifth summer signing. He has joined the likes of Dani Martin, Alfonso Pedraza, Juanmi, and Giovani Lo Celso in Andalusia.
Lyon has thanked Fekir for all he has brought to the French football club, for his professionalism and particularly for his engagement in the professional group as team captain.
Fekir, who has signed a 4-year contract till 2023, and Betis both have a 20% sell-on clause incorporated in the agreement.
Although with a likely increment from his Lyon salary, estimated at 350,000 euros per month, it looks like an unanticipated move for the French midfielder on a football front.
While Lyon has qualified for this season’s Champions League, the Spanish club is out of the European competition after finishing at the 10th position in La Liga last season.
Fekir’s inclusion in the team will bring in the attacking edge, shooting ability, great technique, and creativity in Real Betis.
Fekir leaves his country and club having made 193 appearances for them. Recently, he spoke of his eagerness regarding the eagerness of a new adventure with a new team in La Liga.