Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier has completed a free transfer to Villarreal.
The Ivory Coast international was a free agent after mutually terminating his deal with Spurs over the summer and was briefly linked with a shock move to North London rivals Arsenal.
Everton and Real Madrid were also tipped to move for Aurier, but the right-back has now linked up with the Europa League winners on a one-year deal with the option to extend until 2024.
๐ @Serge_aurier ๐
โ Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) October 4, 2021
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ยก๐๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐๐ข ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฉ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐ช! pic.twitter.com/Do7Qd0nFRj
Aurier will link up with fellow new signings Arnaut Danjuma, Boulaye Dia and Aissa Mandi at Villarreal, where he will also reunite with former Tottenham teammate Juan Foyth following his own permanent move.
Competition for the right-back spot in Unai Emery's ranks is already rife, with Aurier and Foyth also competing with Ruben Pena and Mario Gaspar for a place in the side.
The 28-year-old left Spurs after chalking up eight goals and 17 assists in 110 appearances over four seasons, and he is currently preparing for World Cup qualifiers against Malawi during the international break.
