Real Betis complete surprise signing of Fekir for cut-rate fee

Nabil Fekir is swapping the comforts of France's culinary capital for the sun of southern Spain.

Real Betis announced the signing of Fekir from Lyon on Monday, with the 26-year-old inking a contract until 2023 with the Andalusian outfit. The Ligue 1 side confirmed that Betis will pay an initial €19.75 million for the versatile Frenchman. The deal includes €10 million in potential add-ons, with Lyon also retaining a 20 percent sell-on fee.

Fekir's younger brother, Yassin, is also moving to the Estadio Benito Villamarin. Lyon will pocket 50 percent of any transfer fee should Betis sell the 22-year-old forward in the future.

The elder Fekir's move from Champions League-bound Lyon to the mid-table La Liga side marks an intriguing change from the Frenchman's links with Liverpool last summer. Negotiations between Les Gones and the Reds for a reported €60-million transfer broke down last June when issues stemming from his medical exams emerged.

A member of France's World Cup-winning squad, Fekir progressed through Lyon's famed youth setup to make his first-team debut in August 2013. In six seasons with the club, Fekir made 144 Ligue 1 appearances, scoring 54 goals. He served as Les Gones' captain for the past two seasons.

Fekir's exit marks the third significant departure from Lyon this summer following Tanguy Ndombele's €60-million signing with Spurs and Ferland Mendy's €50-million Real Madrid relocation.

His arrival in Seville could signal a sale for prized Argentine midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who's been linked with a €58-million move to Tottenham. Betis made Lo Celso's one-year loan switch from Paris Saint-Germain permanent in April for a reported €25-million fee.