Dani Ceballos becomes leading target for Real Betis after Sofyan Amrabat joins Ajax

Dani Ceballos is now closer to returning to Real Betis after Sofyan Amrabat completed his move to Ajax, removing a major alternative from the Andalusian club’s plans.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Real Betis are expected to announce the completion of their deal for Ceballos after winning the race to sign the former Real Madrid midfielder ahead of Amrabat.

The two players have very different profiles, both in terms of their positions and their styles of play. However, Real Betis had been weighing up a choice between them during the transfer process, with Amrabat a particular request of manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Amrabat had taken the step Real Betis had asked of him on Saturday, terminating his contract with Fenerbahce. That would have allowed the Morocco international to become a free agent and enabled the Spanish club to negotiate a deal without paying a transfer fee.

The move was viewed as an important condition for Betis to begin formal discussions over a possible transfer. Amrabat’s departure from Fenerbahce appeared to give the club the opportunity to pursue the defensive midfielder without the additional cost of a transfer fee.

Pellegrini had also made clear a week earlier that he wanted to bring in a defensive midfielder to complete his squad. The manager considered Amrabat an ideal option because the player already understood his coaching methods and way of working.

Despite those factors, Amrabat became frustrated with Real Betis. The midfielder reportedly felt the club had not shown sufficient interest in creating room within its wage structure to make a deal possible. That frustration contributed to his decision to join Ajax instead.

With Amrabat no longer available to Betis, the focus has shifted to Ceballos, who has now emerged as the club’s preferred midfield target.

The priority for Real Betis had initially been to sign a striker. After completing the acquisition of Troy Parrott, the club turned its attention to strengthening midfield, with Ceballos becoming the next major objective.

Ceballos previously played for Real Betis before moving to Real Madrid, and his potential return has become increasingly likely following Amrabat’s move to the Dutch club. AS reported that the remaining indications point towards an announcement confirming the transfer.

The developments leave Ceballos ahead of Amrabat in Betis’ recruitment plans, despite the pair offering different qualities and playing in different roles. Amrabat had been Pellegrini’s personal preference for the defensive midfield position, but the financial disagreement between the Morocco international and the club brought that pursuit to an end.

Real Betis must now complete the final stages of the Ceballos agreement, with the former Real Madrid player positioned to follow Parrott as one of the club’s principal additions. The move would mark a return to the Andalusian side for Ceballos after his spell at Real Madrid.