Sevilla sign A.Negredo

Sevilla sign A.Negredo

Sevilla have won the race to sign highly-rated striker Alvaro Negredo, with the club confirming he had penned a five-year deal to move to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium from Real Madrid.

Negredo will undergo a medical on Friday following which he will be unveiled at a lunchtime press conference.

The 23-year-old joins from Real where he had found first-team opportunities hard to come by and, following a spending spree this summer that has seen the capital club sign the likes of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, he was expected to fall further down the pecking order.

Negredo impressed while on loan at Almeria last season, scoring 19 league goals, to inspire a chase for his services this pre-season.

Hull had looked in the box seat to sign him when they had a £12million offer accepted by Madrid earlier this month, however, the player declined the move after revealing he wanted to remain in Spain.

And while Real Zaragoza were also apparently keen on acquiring his services, Sevilla have won the race to tie down one of Spain's most promising talents.

"Sevilla FC and Real Madrid CF have reached an agreement for the striker Alvaro Negredo to join for the next five years," a statement on Sevilla's official website read.

"The player is expected to arrive in the city tonight, and Seville will spend Friday morning having his medical examination.

"His presentation will then be held at 1pm."

The statement added: "With the completion of this transaction, the club closes a difficult and complex negotiation that has become one of the soap operas of the summer.

"As it is known in football nothing is black and white and it is only when the pen ink is on the contract that anything is confirmed."

A statement from Real Madrid tonight also confirmed Negredo's departure, although they revealed the deal included a buy-back clause.

"Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Alvaro Negredo to the latter club," the statement on www.realmadrid.com read.

"Real Madrid CF has the right to purchase the player back in the next two seasons."