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Cape Town - Championship outfit Leeds United have announced on Thursday the signing of goalkeeper Kiko Casilla from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The experienced 32-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half year deal at Elland Road, running until 2023.
Casilla started his career at Real Madrid, before moving to Espanyol in 2007, from where he had loan stints at Cádiz CF and FC Cartagena.
He went onto establish himself as Espanyol’s first choice goalkeeper and his performances led to a first international cap for Spain in November 2014.
At the end of the 2014/15 La Liga campaign, Casilla was re-signed by Real Madrid, eight years after leaving for Espanyol.
Over the past three seasons, Casilla has made 43 appearances for Los Blancos in all competitions.
He played games in each of Real’s UEFA Champions League successes in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and was also between the sticks for their UEFA Super Cup Final success in 2016.
On top of this, Real also won La Liga, the Supercopa de España, three FIFA Club World Cup’s and a second UEFA Super Cup during his second stint at the club.
Casilla becomes Marcelo Bielsa’s first signing of the January transfer window and has been handed the number 33 shirt.
The addition will add competition amongst the goalkeeping ranks and he will now fight with Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Will Huffer for a starting berth at Elland Road.
"I am really pleased to work with Marcelo Bielsa I have a lot of information from when he worked in Spain, I watched the teams when he worked there and I talked with former players who worked with him and they all told me amazing things about him. I am really happy to work with him."
