Celta Vigo Signs Winger Nolito For Rest of 2020 Season

Nolito with Sevilla FC in February. Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

La Liga’s Celta Vigo, one of the teams that are currently involved in an intense relegation battle, saw its spirits and hopes lifted on Thursday after coming to an agreement to sign Sevilla winger Nolito.

The winger, who played for Celta from 2013 to 2016 and established himself as one of the league’s most exciting players, will sign for his former club for the rest of the 2019-20 season in a bid to help Celta stay in the first division.

Celta is allowed to make this signing due to the long-term injury of goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez, which freed up a spot on its roster.

Nolito, who left Celta in summer 2016 for Manchester City, has spent the past three seasons at Sevilla, where he scored 7 goals in 49 matches. Upon returning to Celta, Nolito will attempt to recreate the magic that turned him into a Spanish national team call up and a dynamic force that contributed 39 goals and 23 assists during his three seasons in Galicia.

The 33-year-old winger has played sparsely, mostly as a substitute, since joining Sevilla in 2017. Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui said that while his club would have liked to have retained his services until the end of the season, the player’s “mind was in Vigo” and he preferred to leave.

He is expected to debut for Celta this Sunday in a home match against fellow relegation candidate Deportivo Alaves.