Leeds United have splashed the cash again in their first Premier League transfer window with the signature of Spain international Diego Llorente.
The centre-back signed a four-year deal at Elland Road today after a fee of more than £18m was agreed with Real Sociedad, LeedsLive understands.
Llorente will now compete with the likes of captain Liam Cooper and Germany international Robin Koch for a starting berth in Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
The 27-year-old will wear the number 14 shirt last worn at Elland Road by Eddie Nketiah.
Director of football Victor Orta moved to get the Llorente deal done over the weekend when it became clear Josko Gvardiol was edging towards RB Leipzig.
Talks continued into Monday and it was Tuesday morning when news first broke of the progress being made with negotiations.
Basque sources say the deal was done by Tuesday evening with a medical in Madrid yesterday passed without issue.
Llorente’s arrival means Ben White and Gaetano Berardi have been successfully replaced in this transfer window and should provide Bielsa with enough cover in central defence.
Although he is naturally right-footed, Llorente has played extensively as a left-sided centre-back across the past two years at Sociedad.
Llorente came through the academy at Real Madrid and played sparingly for the La Liga giants before greater pitch time with Rayo Vallecano and Malaga before Sociedad.
The defender has five Spain caps to his name too.
