Leverkusen signs Spanish player Gutierrez

Gutierrez, 25, joins from Italian club Napoli, with the transfer fee valued at 30 million euros ($34.5 million). He is set to replace his compatriot Alejandro Grimaldo, who left Bayer Leverkusen to join Atletico Madrid.

Simon Rolffs, the sporting director at Leverkusen, said: “Miguel is a wonderful footballer – and he is exactly the player we wanted for this position.”

He described Gutierrez as “a skilled, attack-minded defender who fits well into our team.” He added: “I have really admired the club over the past few years. Bayer Leverkusen has an excellent reputation in Italy as well as in my home country, Spain.”

Leverkusen begin their season on the 22nd with a DFB Cup match against third-tier side Wehen Wiesbaden. They play their first Bundesliga game a week later, hosting newly promoted Elversberg.