MADRID, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Spanish La Liga club Real Betis on Friday confirmed the sale of center back Chadi Riad to Premier League outfit Crystal Palace for an initial fee of 15 million euros (16.02 million U.S. dollars).
The Moroccan international, who celebrates his 21st birthday on June 17, spent last season with Betis, making 30 appearances in all competitions after arriving from FC Barcelona last summer.
"Chadi Riad is leaving for Crystal Palace following the agreement reached between the clubs," explained Betis on their official website.
"The Moroccan center back arrived at Real Betis in the summer of 2023 from FC Barcelona on loan, being transferred definitively during this season. He has played a total of 30 official matches under Manuel Pellegrini. The Club thanks the player for the services provided and wishes him the best of luck in his professional future."
The agreement that saw Riad join Betis from Barcelona was for a season's loan, with Betis then paying three million euros for 50 percent of the player's rights.
That means Barcelona will get a much-needed windfall from his move to Crystal Palace, with the three million euros from Betis, plus a further six million from the rest of the sale.
"I am very happy to join Crystal Palace. I was interested in coming here because of the history of the club and the league in which it plays. They have been telling me how they played this year and I think it perfectly complements the way I play," said Riad.
"The club has high-level players who are young, and I have come here to follow their same trajectory and to grow as they have grown," he added. ■
