Defender Vallejo to join Real Madrid first team squad for next season

Madrid, June 13: Spanish football giants Real Madrid has confirmed that 20-year-old defender Jesus Vallejo will form part of their first team squad for the 2017-18 season.

The young central defender will fill the gap left by Pepe after the 34-year-old veteran and the club were unable to reach agreement on a new contract for the player who had spent the past 10 years at the Santiago Bernabeu, reports Xinhua news agency.

Vallejo was signed from Real Zaragoza in 2015, but spent the following season on loan at the club, while this campaign he has been on loan with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, making 25 first team appearances in the German Bundesleague.

The defender is due to fly with the Spain Under-21 squad to compete in the European Under-21 Championships on Thursday, but when he returns Vallejo can expect to be officially presented to the Madrid fans in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium along with Marcos Llorente who also returns to the club after an excellent campaign on loan at Alaves.