Villarreal are understood to have completed the signing of Jonathan de Guzman from Real Mallorca on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Canadian born but Dutch Under-21 capped De Guzman moves to El Madrigal for a reported fee of €8m, ending weeks of speculation, and lengthy negotiations between Mallorca and the Yellow Submarine.
The move was expected to be completed yesterday, but hit a snag when it emerged the player was entitled to 20% of the transfer fee. Mallorca insisted on €8m net as an asking price, and the deal is believed to have now been completed in light of the player foregoing his percentage.
De Guzman featured at the weekend for Michael Laudrup’s side and scored the winning goal in a highly-influential performance, reminiscent of last season’s form for the islanders that has generated subsequent interest this summer.
The 23-year-old only arrived in La Liga last summer, when Mallorca picked him up on a free transfer from Feyenoord. In administration, the club have now made a substantial profit on the player, but with time and financial constraints, will struggle to replace the youngster before the window closes.
He is Villarreal’s most significant summer signing, following the failed bid to sign Real Madrid’s Sergio Canales, and arrives expected to take on some of the now-departed Santi Cazorla’s attacking responsibility.
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