Dani Ceballos has signed a three-year contract with Real Betis Balompié, returning to the Seville-based club after nine seasons. The deal, finalized on Tuesday, will keep the 30-year-old midfielder at the Benito Villamarín until June 2029. Betis, sitting seventh in La Liga with six points from three games, announced the signing via a video on their official Twitter account on September 1.
Ceballos becomes the fifth signing for the verdiblanco side for the 2026-27 campaign, following Troy Parrott, Fran García, Facundo Bernal and Diego Conde. The club has also promoted youth team players Manu González and Morante, European U19 champions, to the first team. With this squad, the team faces a key match in their fixtures against Real Madrid this Friday, September 4.
What is Dani Ceballos's career path?
The Madrid-born player made his Betis debut in the 2013-14 season in a match against Real Sociedad. In his first green-and-white spell, he played 105 matches across La Liga and the second division, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists. His performances earned him a move to Real Madrid in 2017, where he played 215 official games, scored seven goals and made 16 assists. There he won three Champions Leagues, two league titles, two UEFA Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, three Club World Cups and one Copa del Rey.
Ceballos also had two loan spells at English side Arsenal, making 77 appearances, scoring twice and providing six assists, winning one FA Cup and one Community Shield. Internationally, the midfielder has 13 caps for the Spanish senior team and a U21 European Championship in his trophy cabinet. His return comes as Betis looks to consolidate its seventh place in the standings, three points behind leaders Barcelona.
How does the Betis squad look now?
The arrival of Ceballos closes the signing market for the club, according to team sources. The board is now working on moving some players on to balance the squad. One of the operations underway involves midfielder Pablo García, whose loan to Racing de Santander with 50% of his rights for 5.5 million euros plus add-ons is well advanced.
The team approaches the next matchday with several significant absences. According to the injuries list, Aitor Ruibal, Diego Conde, Giovani Lo Celso and Gonzalo Petit are all sidelined. This will force the manager to restructure his starting eleven against a Real Madrid side that arrives second in the table. Betis has scored four goals and conceded five in their first three matches, with a record of two wins and one loss.
What did the club say about the signing?
The official Real Betis Twitter account posted a video with the message "Traigan de vuelta a Ceballos" to announce the deal. The video, released on Tuesday, September 1, generated great excitement among the green-and-white supporters. The midfielder, who will turn 31 in August 2027, rejoins a club that saw him grow as a footballer.
His experience at top European clubs will be an asset for a Betis side aiming to maintain its strong league start. The team needs to improve its goal difference, currently at -1, to climb the standings. Ceballos's contract, which runs until the summer of 2029, represents a medium-term commitment for both parties. Real Betis Balompié's next match is on Friday, September 4 at the Benito Villamarín against Real Madrid.
