Leeds United receiving reduced fee over three instalments for senior player sale — Report — Leeds All Over 10/7/24
Kris Smith
Leeds United confirmed the sale of Diego Llorente to Real
Betis this week, as the La Liga side pounced on another low value player due to
leave Elland Road.
The Whites have been clearing house in the early stages of
the summer window thus far, moving on players that are not part of the plans.
Included in that are those that were out on loan last
season, including Diego Llorente off the back of his stint with Roma.
Confirmation came this week that Leeds had agreed to a
permanent sale of centre-back Llorente to La Liga club Real Betis.
The 30-year-old has spent 18 months on loan at Roma before
this summer, but has opted for a new challenge, moving to Manuel Pellegrini’s
Europa Conference League.
He joins Marc Roca at the Sevilla club, with Leeds’
statement on the player’s departure contrasting to that of Roca’s, seeing him
actually wished well for his future:
“Llorente has spent the last 18-months away from the club on
loan with AS Roma in the Italian Serie A, but will now return to his home
nation on a permanent basis.
“The Spanish international made 59 appearances in all
competitions for the Whites, after joining the club in 2020.
“We would like to wish Diego well for his future career.”
Estadio Deportivo have now brought further details into the
transfer of Llorente to Real Betis, in which they share that the fee is in the
region of €3.25million (£2.75million).
Not only that, but the transfer is going to be paid over
three instalments by Betis to Leeds, with a contract signed for four years.
The fee Leeds are getting is lower than the verbal agreement
in place with Roma, who were looking at a fee of €5million (£4.22million)
before dropping out of the race.
It’s not the best fee in the world for a Spanish
international off the back of a full season starting most weeks at Roma.
Having said that, it’s still going to represent a profit for
Leeds off the back of his contract extension, given that his initial deal would
have concluded in June.