Real Betis has finalised the loan of 27-year-old goalkeeper Diego Conde from Villarreal. The deal includes a non-mandatory purchase option of €5 million and is expected to be official this weekend.
The Real Betis has secured the replacement in goal. The verdiblanco club has reached an agreement with Villarreal for the loan of Diego Conde, a 27-year-old goalkeeper from Madrid, as this newspaper has learned. The operation includes a non-mandatory purchase option valued at €5 million, a formula that allows the heliopolitan team to strengthen a key position without making a large immediate outlay.
Diego Conde arrives at Betis after a season at Villarreal where he had little involvement. The goalkeeper, who was trained in the youth ranks of Atlético de Madrid and had a stint at Getafe, made a name for himself at Leganés, where he was a key player in the promotion to La Liga in the 2023/24 season. That year, he finished as the least beaten goalkeeper in LaLiga Hypermotion, which caught the attention of the Castellón team, who paid €4 million for him two summers ago.
However, his time at Villarreal was inconsistent. In his first season, he played 22 official matches, but last season he only played one match in the Copa del Rey, overshadowed by the competition from Luiz Junior and Arnau Tenas. Now, at Betis, he seeks to regain the confidence and level that made him one of the standout goalkeepers in the Second Division.
A low-cost operation to avoid market constraints
The Betis sporting management, led by Manu Fajardo, has opted for a loan with a purchase option to avoid compromising the salary margin and to be able to undertake other operations this summer. The Betis has already made moves in the transfer market, and the arrival of Conde is part of a low-cost reinforcement policy that allows for financial balance. The goalkeeper will join pre-season as soon as the deal is made official, likely this weekend.
The arrival of Conde coincides with the departure of Pau López, who has accepted an offer from Andorra after seven years in Heliópolis. "Seven years ago I left because it was an opportunity for both me and the club. This time I leave because I feel I can no longer help Betis," wrote the Catalan goalkeeper in his farewell, moving the verdiblanco fans.
Betis bets on a goalkeeper hungry for minutes
Diego Conde, who also had a stint at Getafe without making his debut in the top flight, arrives in Seville with the intention of competing for the position against Rui Silva and Adrián San Miguel, the other goalkeepers in the squad. Coach Manuel Pellegrini values his ability to play with his feet and his experience in the second tier, although his performance at Villarreal was not as expected. Betis is confident that the change of scenery will restore the level he showed in Butarque, where he was the best goalkeeper in the Second Division.
For Betis fans, the news comes as a relief after Pau López's departure and the need to cover the goal with guarantees. Conde, who is still 27 years old, arrives at a crucial moment in his career, with the opportunity to establish himself in a top-flight team aiming for European spots. The purchase option also allows the club to assess his performance before committing long-term.
The agreement is expected to be made official in the coming days, once the player undergoes a medical examination and signs his new contract. Meanwhile, Betis continues to work on other signings to complete the squad for the 2026/27 season, with an eye on the start of La Liga next August.
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