Real Betis near £17.1m deal to sign Ireland striker Troy Parrott
Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott is on the verge of a £17.1m move to Real Betis after the Spanish club reached advanced talks with AZ Alkmaar.
It is understood that an agreement between the Eredivisie outfit and the La Liga side is now imminent.
The proposed €20m transfer will see the 24-year-old forward choose Spain over Premier League interest, following heavy links with West Ham.
Prolific form in the Netherlands
The former Tottenham prospect only joined AZ Alkmaar in July 2024, having previously spent a season on loan at Excelsior Rotterdam.
He began his permanent stint in Dutch football in sensational fashion, netting 10 goals in his first seven appearances.
Despite a knee ligament injury keeping him sidelined between August and October, the attacker finished the league season with 16 goals in 28 games.
International heroics and European appeal
Beyond his club exploits, the talented marksman recently shone on the international stage to help his country secure World Cup play-off qualification.
A remarkable window last November saw him score twice in a 2-0 victory over Portugal, before hitting a dramatic 96th-minute winner to seal a hat-trick against Hungary.
That treble made him the first Irish men’s player to score an away hat-trick, and the first to record a competitive treble since Robbie Keane in 2014.
The 37-cap international will remain a vital figure for manager Heimir Hallgrimsson during the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Kosovo, Austria and Israel.
A move to Andalusia now offers an exciting next step, as Betis prepare for Champions League football after securing a fifth-place league finish.