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Arsenal flop Lucas Pérez ‘pays part of his OWN £440,000 transfer fee’ to leave Cádiz after just 31 appearances to pave the way for an emotional return to third-tier Spanish club Deportivo La Coruña
- Pérez reportedly paid part of his own fee to return to Deportivo La Coruña.
- The 37-year-old signed from La Liga side Cádiz after making just 31 appearances
- This is already Pérez’s fourth spell at the Spanish third division club
- The club are keen to bolster their promotion push and currently sit in fourth place.
Arsenal flop Lucas Pérez paved the way for an emotional return to Spanish third division Deportivo La Coruña after he reportedly paid part of his own transfer fee to leave Cádiz.
It comes after the La Liga side set a valuation of £440,000 (€500,000) to allow Perez to leave them after making just 31 appearances.
The veteran striker has re-signed for Deportivo La Coruña for a year and a half in a bid to help the third division club climb the ranks back to LaLiga.
Arsenal flop Lucas Pérez has paved the way for an emotional return to Deportivo La Coruña by paying part of his own fee.
Pérez has re-signed for the Spanish third division after playing just 31 games with Cádiz.
The Blue and Whites were relegated from the Spanish First Division in 2018 and, after spending two seasons in the second division, they were relegated back to the First Federation.
Desperate to help, Pérez paid part of his own transfer due to the club’s lack of funds, according to AS.
Pérez has amassed 96 appearances for the Galician side in three different spells, including a loan spell while at Arsenal.
The striker had initially signed for Arsenal on a £17m contract from Deportiva La Coruña, but returned on loan after a poor run at the Gunners.
Pérez struggled to adjust to life in England, where in three seasons he scored just seven goals for Arsenal and six for West Ham.
Deportivo La Coruña announced the transfer of Pérez on their official website, stating that he will wear the number 7.
The club also posted a moving video of Pérez with the caption: ‘Today at 7, El Niño returns home’, referring to his presentation.
Pérez himself tweeted to the people of Cádiz: ‘Cadistas, I arrived a year ago with the clear objective of salvation and we achieved it! I want to thank the fans, the club and the city for the love you have shown me during this time. I am going to fulfill a dream!
‘I will always wish you all the best, you deserve it!’
Pérez struggled to adjust to life in England, where in three seasons he scored just seven goals for Arsenal and six for West Ham.
The 34-year-old has played in Spain, England, Greece and the Ukraine for a variety of clubs during his career.