MADRID, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Spanish La Liga side Sevilla on Monday announced the signing of former Spain international Saul Niguez Esclapez on loan from Atletico Madrid.
The midfielder, who can also play in central defense, arrived after making 427 appearances for Atletico, despite falling out of favor with coach Diego Simeone in recent years, which saw him spend the second half of the 2021-2022 campaign on loan at Chelsea.
The agreement to take the 29-year-old to the south of Spain is initially until the end of June 2025, although there is an option for the loan to be extended for a second year.
Saul Niguez was not the only player on the move between La Liga clubs on Monday, with Athletic Bilbao and Alaves announcing an agreement for striker Asier Villalibre to join Alaves.
The 26-year-old striker has agreed on a four-year contract to return to Alaves, where he was already a hero after scoring the extra-time penalty that saw the club from northern Spain's Vitoria win promotion back to La Liga in June 2023, while on loan from Athletic.
Villalibre scored 21 goals in 127 first-team appearances for Athletic, although many of those appearances came from off the bench. ■
