Leicester City have completed the signing of Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra, who they have tied down on a four-year contract for a fee of around £12.5million.
The 29-year-old almost made the move to the Premier League last season when Sunderland wanted him for £7million, but his club pulled the plug at the last moment. Considering the season the Black Cats endured, the midfielder will likely look back at this as a bullet dodged.
He will look at the Foxes, who were league champions 12 months ago, as a safer option despite their struggles of last term. The King Power Stadium club battled relegation for much of the campaign, until Craig Shakespeare replaced Claudio Ranieri and led them to a 12th place finish.
Speaking after sealing his move to Leicester on Thursday, Iborra told the official club website: “I am looking forward to experiencing the Premier League with my new team-mates next season. Everything about this club seems good and it’s been great to meet my new team-mates.”
Iborra made his name at Levante, where he developed through their youth system to make 188 appearances. He joined Sevilla in 2013, and would go on captain the La Liga club and score 30 goals in 173 outings, helping them win the UEFA Europa League on three occasions.
The uncapped Spaniard becomes Leicester’s second signing of the summer, as they look to recover from last season’s nervous performance to once more challenge in the right half of the table. Last month, defender Harry Maguire joined from relegated Hull City for a fee of £15million.
