Advíncula, Kagawa, Coric, Viera and Appiah: luxury reinforcements in Second Division
LaLiga SmartBank closes a very busy summer transfer market for a category that becomes stronger every year due to the numerous arrivals of international players.
Among the most outstanding signings are the Peruvian Luis Advíncula (Rayo), the Japanese Shinji Kagawa (Zaragoza), the Croatian Ante Coric (Almería), the French Luca Zidane (Racing) or the return of the Spaniards Jonathan Soriano (Girona) and Jonathan Viera (Las Palmas).
"The Spanish Second Division is the fifth or sixth most important league in Europe." This phrase is one of the most repeated by coaches who currently train in the category or have made the leap to the First Division or to managing teams in other countries.
The reality is that the level of the Second Division increases every year, and proof of this is the large number of players who, with a good international reputation, decide to play in it.
The arrival of Sheikh Turki Al-Sheikh at UD Almería has caused an earthquake in the Andalusian team, which in the last days of the market has strengthened with the Uruguayan forward Darwin Núñez, signed from Peñarol for 4 million euros, the Englishman Arvin Appiah, who cost almost 9 million, and the loan of the Croatian international midfielder Ante Coric, from Roma.
Appiah, the second most expensive in history
The 8.8 million euros paid for Appiah make him the second most expensive signing in the history of the Second Division, surpassing former Barcelona player Alen Halilovic (5 million).
Also, the young winger has become the most expensive signing in the history of the Spanish club, surpassing Pablo Piatti, who held the record with 7 million.
This season, Luca Zidane plays for Racing Santander, where he will seek the minutes he did not have at Real Madrid.