The real reason why Leeds United hero Junior Firpo has still not been announced by Real Betis

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Leeds United have confirmed the permanent departure of Junior Firpo on a free transfer after his contract expired on June 30, but Real Betis are yet to announce his signing.

The Dominican Republic international left Leeds after four years. Firpo chose not to sign a contract given to him by Leeds, because The 49ers offered him a smaller wage than the one he first agreed in 2021.

In a farewell video to Leeds fans, Firpo aimed a dig at The 49ers by making it clear that was no possibility of signing a new deal. It is widely expected that Firpo now returns to his boyhood club Real Betis.

Firpo has even hinted at a move to Betis with a post on his Instagram story, which included him wearing Marc Roca’s Espanyol shirt and a green heart emoji alongside an egg time. Roca of course, plays for Betis.

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Why Real Betis are yet to announce the signing of Junior Firpo

It is now a week since Leeds confirmed Firpo’s exit on a free. Even before then, it was common knowledge that he was joining Betis and yet, still no announcement from the Europa Conference League finalists.

Well, Estadio Deportivo explain why. They confirm there is nothing to worry about from a Betis point of view, and that Firpo has verbally agreed a three-year contract with the La Liga side, running until 2028.

But they claim ‘bureaucratic matters’ are currently preventing a move from being rubber-stamped, and all that remains to do is for Betis to give Firpo or his agents a call to schedule him physically signing a deal.

Junior Firpo could face Gjanni Alioski in Europa League

Betis’ impressive sixth-placed finish in La Liga last season has seen them directly qualify for the Europa League group stage this season, which will see them play eight times at least in Europe before Christmas.

It could well see Firpo come up against Gjanni Alioski. After a nightmare spell in Saudi Arabia in which Alioski failed to get registered for league games, Alioski has returned to his boyhood club Lugano.

Lugano are set to play in the qualifying rounds of the competition, as they wait to see if they will face either Hungarian side Paks FC or Romanian outfit CFR Cluj. Alioski vs Firpo would be a top battle.