Former Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has sealed a move to Real Betis, becoming the latest addition to their defensive lineup, ending his period without a club.
The move comes as part of Betis’ ongoing efforts to shore up their defence, particularly in the wake of injuries and departures from the squad.
Former Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has officially joined Real Betis, marking another chapter in a career that has seen him play for top clubs across Europe.
The Greek international was unveiled at the Luis del Sol Sports City, Betis’ training facility, in an event attended by the club president, Ángel Haro, and sports director, Ramón Planes.
The contract ties Sokratis to the Seville-based club until 30 June 2024.
Sokratis, who played for Arsenal between 2018 and 2021, made 69 appearances for the Gunners, scoring six goals and providing two assists.
His time in north London was marked by an FA Cup win in the 2019-2020 season and frequent mistakes in defence alongside Shkodran Mustafi.
He parted ways with Arsenal in January 2021 on a free transfer to Olympiacos after his contract was cancelled to free up squad space.
Ángel Haro stated during the presentation, “When Luiz Felipe left, we knew that we had a deficiency and we started to work thinking about our first option. This situation was aggravated by Marc Bartra’s injury and luckily we were able to bring our positions closer together. Sokratis has extensive experience. He has played in big European clubs. He has been international for Greece for 90 caps, he is a person who knows his job very well.”
Ramón Planes echoed these sentiments, pointing out the unusual timing of the signing: “It is not usual to present a player on these dates, but football has these circumstances. Sokratis meets the requirements we were looking for, experience and seeing that in his last season he participated a lot. He told me that everything he has seen so far confirms the words that one as a sports director tries to convey to a player.”
For his part, Sokratis is clearly keen to get started. “I am very happy to be here and be able to help the team,” he said. “I am here to help the team with experience and give it quality in the defensive zone. I am sure that I will give even more than what is expected of me, 100% so that matches like the one we saw yesterday occur. I just need a little time to adapt.”
The new signing also touched on his physical condition, stating that while he has been working out with a personal trainer, it’s different from team training. “I will talk to the coach and when we decide that I am ready to debut, be sure that I will do it 100%,” Sokratis said after three months without a club following his release by Olympiacos.
Asked about his discussions with former teammates Héctor Bellerín and Marc Bartra before making the move, Sokratis noted that their high praise for Betis was a key factor in his decision to sign. “They called me every day. They wanted me to come, they spoke very highly of the team and that was one of the reasons why I am here,” he explained.
He did not touch on reports he initialled turned down a move to Betis amid reports that Bayern Munich were considering bringing him in.
Sokratis is yet to set an official date for his debut, but with a derby against Sevilla looming in two weeks, both the club and player are hopeful that he’ll be ready to take part.
The Greek centre-back’s latest move is seen as beneficial not just for Real Betis, but also for Sokratis himself as he continues to add to a career that has included stints in the Bundesliga, Premier League, and now LaLiga, which he describes as “one of the best championships in the world.”