Diego Llorente’s departure from Leeds United has been finalized with his permanent transfer to Real Betis, marking the 13th senior exit since the club’s Wembley play-off final. A bid of around €3m was initially rejected, but a slightly improved offer was accepted by the Whites on Monday.
The 30-year-old’s last appearance for Leeds was against Accrington Stanley, where Jesse Marsch’s team emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline in the FA Cup. Following that, Llorente spent time on loan at Roma before Real Betis swooped in to reunite him with Marc Roca.
In a club statement, Leeds United wished Diego well in his future endeavors. Llorente joined the club after their promotion to the Premier League in September 2020, with a transfer fee of approximately £18m paid to Real Sociedad for the Spain international.
Injuries plagued Llorente’s first season in England, delaying his full debut until January 2021. After a rocky start, he gained regular starts under Marcelo Bielsa and later under Jesse Marsch. However, a disappointing performance against Brentford led to his eventual departure from Elland Road, initially on loan to Roma in January 2023.
Overall, Llorente made 59 appearances for Leeds United, scoring four goals during his time at the club. His exit leaves the Whites with Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, and Ethan Ampadu as the main options for the center-back positions, with meaningful first-team experience.
