Bayer Leverkusen have closed the signing of midfielder Aleix García from Girona.
The 26-year-old helped Girona record their most productive league result yet, finishing third in La Liga and in the race for the name for more than part of the campaign.
Leverkusen will pay €18m ($15. 2m) plus an additional €2m for the Spain international, roughly equivalent to the €20m release clause on his Girona contract.
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Athletic reported in January that Garcia was aiming for Barcelona and was looking very well through the Catalan club’s most sensible top brass.
Garcia played 37 games in La Liga last season, offering 3 goals and six assists, and was named to the division’s Team of the Season. His form was rewarded with a first call-up to Spain’s senior national team in November, but he missed out on a position. in the European Championship squad.
Garcia progressed through Villarreal’s academy before joining Manchester City in 2015. He spent five years with the Premier League club but made only nine appearances and spent two seasons on loan at City Football Group (CFG) Girona between 2017 and 2019.
Garcia then moved permanently to Dinamo Bucuresti in 2020, before first signing for Eibar and then joining Girona in 2021.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title last season, while Xabi Alonso’s side remained unbeaten this league season, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year winning streak.
GOING FURTHER
How Aleix Garcia’s Beckham-style outfit is pushing Girona into Europe
(Alex Caparrós/Getty Images)
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Guillermo began his career covering Real Madrid and the sports industry for Diario AS. He then moved to London and became a correspondent for AS and Cadena Ser. He has since returned to Madrid and joins us at The Athletic where he will give information. , interviews, stories and much more about Real Madrid.