Real Betis are racing against the clock in the final hours of the transfer window to finalize the return of Dani Ceballos, having reached an agreement with the former Real Madrid player. However, the deal remains contingent on the Andalusian club’s ability to create margin within their wage cap.
Spanish newspaper AS reported that both parties agreed to a three-season contract with an option for a fourth year, making Ceballos among the team’s highest earners, though not the absolute top earner.
Betis plan to structure the contract with a lower salary in the first season, followed by increases in the subsequent two years. Concurrently, the club is working on the departure of Iker Losada and the sales of Pablo García and Álvaro Fidalgo, while considering financial guarantees to expand their registration capacity.
This situation represents a common hurdle in La Liga, as financial fair play caps encompass salaries, bonuses, commissions, and transfer amortization costs—a barrier FC Barcelona famously encountered when registering Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor before pursuing exceptional legal and financial mechanisms.
Ceballos mutually terminated his contract with Real Madrid last June despite having one year remaining, relinquishing his stay at the Santiago Bernabéu to facilitate his return to the club where he intends to conclude his career.
The 30-year-old made 215 appearances for Real Madrid after joining in 2017, winning 16 trophies including 3 UEFA Champions League titles, alongside a two-season loan spell at Arsenal between 2019 and 2021.
Having progressed through Betis’ youth ranks before debuting for the first team at age 17, Ceballos made 105 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals and helping secure promotion to La Liga in 2015. Although he remains eligible to sign after the transfer deadline as a free agent, the upcoming squad submission deadline for European competitions intensifies the pressure in these closing hours.
