Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen have bolstered their defensive options by signing Spain international Mario Hermoso on loan from Roma until the end of the season.
The 29-year-old Madrid native, who has five caps for his country, joined the Italian side in the 2024 summer transfer window, but has now been persuaded to form part of Xabi Alonso's project at the BayArena.
"I’m really looking forward to striving for big goals with the Werkself," said Hermoso after putting pen to paper on his six-month deal with the Bundesliga champions. "The conditions are there to have a successful season."
After coming through the youth ranks at Real Madrid, the left-footer spent the bulk of his senior career at city rivals Atlético, where he won the La Liga title in 2020/21.
He left Madrid last summer when his contract expired and signed for Roma, scoring one goal in 13 appearances for the Italian club.
“Mario Hermoso is an internationally experienced professional and, in addition to centre-back, he can also play left-back with great consistency and calmness,” says Bayer's managing director for sport Simon Rolfes. “Mario will give our defence added versatility and will compensate very well for the loss of Jeanuël Belocian.”
Watch: Bayer Leverkusen unveil Mario Hermoso
Hermoso joins the growing ranks of Spaniards at Leverkusen, alongside head coach Alonso, Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix García.