MADRID, Aug. 12 -- Spanish La Liga club Getafe confirmed the signing of defender Juan Varela from local rivals Atletico Madrid on Friday.

26-year-old Varela is a former Spanish under-21 international, who has spent five of the last six seasons at Atletico, a run broekn only by a one-year loan spell to Racing Santander.

Last season saw him make 15 league appearances for his former club, while the previous campaign, he played 23 league matches for Atletico.

Varela will be officially presented to the press and his new fans next Tuesday.

The arrival of defenders Joao Miranda and Silvio Ferreira has pushed Varela out of the first team reckoning this season and he has decided to join Getafe, who last season only just avoided relegation to the Spanish second division.

Getafe have strengthened their squad well to ensure there is no repeat performance this time around, bringing in coach Luis Garcia from Levante along with several experienced players such as former Deportivo La Coruna central defender Alberto Lopo and midfielders Juan Rodriguez and Ruben Perez, former Sporting Gijon midfielder Diego Castro and midfielder Mehdi Lacen, who spent the past three years with Racing Santander.

Getafe are also thought to be close to securing the services of Paraguayan international Nelson Valdez who scored eight goals for relegated Hercules last season.

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