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Jun 18, 20261
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Dani Ceballos Set to Return to Real Betis on Free Transfer from Real Madrid
Dani Ceballos is set to join Real Betis on a free transfer from Real Madrid, having demonstrated unwavering commitment to returning to his boyhood club. The midfielder is forgoing millions in salary and accepting significantly reduced wages to facilitate the deal, while rejecting lucrative offers from other European teams.
Quick Facts
Who
Dani Ceballos
What
Free transfer from Real Madrid
When
June 2026
Where
Real Madrid
- Free transfer from Real Madrid
- Salary reduction agreed
- Multiple competing offers rejected
- Public commitment to Betis
- Financial concessions to facilitate deal
Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos has made a clear commitment to return to Real Betis, his boyhood club, after becoming available on a free transfer from Real Madrid. The Utrera-born player has pursued the move with determination over recent months, demonstrating his desire to rejoin the Andalusian club despite receiving multiple offers from other European teams.
Ceballos has taken concrete steps to facilitate the transfer. He has agreed to forgo approximately 10 million euros in gross salary to ease Real Madrid's financial constraints and comply with their salary limit requirements. Additionally, the player is willing to significantly reduce his wages to align with Betis's economic reality, accepting a salary reduction of roughly half compared to his current terms at Madrid. This financial flexibility represents a key factor in enabling the deal to progress.
The midfielder has explicitly communicated that Betis is his sole priority, having turned down lucrative offers from other clubs including Ajax, Villarreal, Olympique Marseille, and Qatar-based teams. His determination to return home is underscored by his willingness to walk away from previously completed agreements when opportunities to join Betis seemed possible. In previous transfer windows, negotiations with Marseille fell through when he detected a possibility of returning to Heliópolis, while moves in other instances were disrupted by managerial decisions or competing signings.
Ceballos has made his intentions public through recent statements, notably declaring at Santa Justa station last summer that "Betis is my house, and it will always be my house." His request for a departure this season marked a definitive step in his campaign to return. The player enjoys strong support from the Betis squad, with captain Isco Alarcón stating "Let's see if he comes here soon," reflecting the team's desire to bring him back.
With Real Madrid confirming they will release him on a free transfer, Betis is now working to finalize the agreement in the coming weeks. Despite the various obstacles that have prevented previous transfer completions, Ceballos's resolute commitment to the club and his financial concessions have positioned this move more favorably than earlier attempts.
Why This Matters
This transfer demonstrates how player loyalty and emotional connection to a club can override financial incentives in modern football. For Betis fans, it represents a significant boost to squad quality as they secure a technically gifted midfielder at no transfer fee while Ceballos's willingness to accept lower wages provides the club financial relief. For Real Madrid, releasing Ceballos on a free transfer while he foregoes salary helps manage their financial constraints and comply with La Liga regulations. The deal also signals broader trends in player recruitment: the increasing importance of emotional factors in transfer decisions and how ambitious mid-table clubs can compete for talent through strategic financial positioning.
Timeline & Sources
Mar 27, 2025
WireReports emerge that Ceballos will be released on free transfer
Jun 18, 2026
WireDiario de Sevilla reports on Ceballos's efforts and commitment to Betis transfer