Atletico Madrid announced the signing of Sevilla forward Vitolo after the Spanish international paid his own £33million release fee at La Liga offices on Wednesday.
Vitolo will play at Las Palmas until January because of Atletico’s ban on registering players, resolving a complex transfer saga.
Despite the Las Palmas sporting director saying the deal would take place, Vitolo had previously agreed to sign a contract extension with Sevilla, which their president Jose Castro announced on Monday.
However, the 27-year-old changed his mind after a phone call from Atletico on Tuesday night.
Vitolo appeared at La Liga’s headquarters on Wednesday to pay his release fee of £33million, which was funded by Atletico, according to Spanish publication Marca.
This enabled him to sign for former side Las Palmas, where he will remain until he can join his new club.
The 27-year-old Spaniard has agreed a deal with Atletico until June 2022.
The Madrid club released a statement which read: ‘Vitolo is a player with extensive experience and quality, who has played for Spain 11 times and become one of the most dangerous players in La Liga in recent seasons.’
Atletico’s new signing helped Sevilla to the Europa League crown three times with, in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The Madrid side are not allowed to register new players until January 2018 due to a FIFA transfer ban for signing minors.
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