Spanish winger Rodrigo Riquelme has completed a move from Atletico Madrid to Real Betis, signing a contract that will keep him at the Seville-based club until 2030, both clubs confirmed on Friday.
“Atletico Madrid and Real Betis have reached an agreement for the transfer of Rodrigo Riquelme,” Atletico said in a statement, though the exact financial details were not disclosed. According to reports, the deal is valued at around €8 million ($9.4 million) for 50% of the player’s rights, with Atletico retaining the remaining half.
Riquelme, 25, is expected to fill the gap left by 19-year-old Jesús Rodríguez, who recently departed Betis to join Italian side Como in a €25 million ($29.4 million) deal.
A product of Atletico’s youth academy, Riquelme has steadily risen through the ranks and gained experience with loan spells at Bournemouth and Mirandés. However, it was during the 2022–23 season with Girona that he truly broke into the spotlight, leading to his senior international debut with Spain in November 2023. He has since earned two caps.
Over his career so far, Riquelme has made 85 La Liga appearances, 13 in the UEFA Champions League, and 14 in the Copa del Rey.
His move to Betis is seen as a strategic addition as the club seeks to strengthen its attacking options for the upcoming season.
Written By Rodney Mbua
