Getafe confirmed the signing of Nemanja Gudelj on Sunday. The 34-year-old Serbia international arrives at the Coliseum on a free transfer and has signed for one season, according to the club, which presents him as a midfield reinforcement able to bring experience and versatility to the squad.

Gudelj is a holding midfielder, although he can also play as a centre-back, a further option for a side facing the season in three competitions. His arrival addresses a shortage that José Bordalás had pointed to on several occasions in recent weeks: a lack of numbers in midfield forced the manager to repeat his line-ups at the start of the campaign.

The Serbian arrives in Getafe after seven seasons at Sevilla, where he played 261 competitive matches and became the fifth foreign player with the most appearances in the club's history. During that spell he won two Europa League titles, in 2020 and in 2023. His contract with the Andalusian side expired on 30 June, so Getafe have not had to pay a transfer fee.

Last season he played 34 LaLiga matches, 26 of them as a starter, totalling 2,347 minutes and scoring two goals. He has also made 78 appearances in European competition across Sevilla, AZ Alkmaar, Ajax and Sporting CP, a career that has taken him to the Netherlands, Portugal, China and Spain.

His international record is equally extensive: he has 75 caps for Serbia, with whom he took part in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and at Euro 2024.

"He is a player with a great deal of experience, a professional, and I think he is going to help us," said Bordalás of the new azulón signing, whom he sees as a reference point for the younger players in the squad. The manager insisted that the club is aware of the squad's shortcomings and is confident that more additions will arrive before the transfer window closes.

Getafe travel to face Osasuna at El Sadar on Monday. The club has not specified whether Gudelj will already be available for that match.