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West Ham United can confirm that Pablo Fornals has joined Real Betis on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.
The 27-year-old returns to Spain after four-and-a-half seasons with the Hammers, during which he made 203 appearances and scored 23 goals.
Fornals will always retain a place in West Ham United folklore after netting the goal at AZ Alkmaar that confirmed the Irons’ passage to the UEFA Europa Conference League final in May 2023.
The midfielder also netted memorable goals in Premier League wins over Liverpool FC, Aston Villa, Leicester City and Southampton FC, the latter of which clinched the Club’s qualification for the UEFA Europa League in May 2021.
Fornals’ creativity also saw him assist two unforgettable goals in the 3-0 UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second-leg win at Olympique Lyonnais in April 2022.
The Castellón-born player’s form in Claret and Blue saw him win a recall to the senior Spain squad in 2021, when he scored his first goal for his national team in Kosovo.
A popular figure around the Club, Fornals and his partner Tania welcomed baby son Martín in November 2021, and a number of his teammates and backroom staff were at the couple’s wedding in Spain in the same week he appeared as a substitute in the UEFA Europa Conference League final victory over AC Fiorentina in Prague in June 2023.
Fornals also endeared himself to the Claret and Blue Army for singing a rendition of ‘West Ham are Massive’ following West Ham UEFA’s win over FC Sevilla in the Europa League round of 16 in March 2022.
Now, he joins Real Betis, who are coached by Manuel Pellegrini, who was West Ham manager when Fornals moved to London in June 2019.
