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Ten new signings to watch in La Liga: Paulinho, Theo Hernandez, Vitolo and more

10 La Liga summer signings

The 2017/18 La Liga season kicks off on Friday and ahead of the new campaign, we have picked out 10 summer signings to watch.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are all in action live on Sky Sports Football over the opening weekend of the season.

There are sure to be new faces on show, with a few familiar names from the Premier League now playing in Spain's top flight...

Live La Liga Football

Theo Hernandez - Atletico Madrid to Real Madrid

Fee: £25m (€27m)

Hernandez has swapped Madrid clubs and will compete with Marcelo for the left-back spot at the Bernabeu.

Still a teenager, the French-born 19-year-old never played a competitive match for Atleti, instead catching Real's eye while on loan at Copa del Rey finalists Alaves.

He is the first player since Santiago Solari in 2000 to make the switch between the city rivals.

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Theo Hernandez in pre-season action for Real Madrid in the USA
Image: Theo Hernandez (right) in pre-season action for Real Madrid in the USA

Paulinho - Guangzhou Evergrande to Barcelona

Fee: £36.4m (€40m)

Eyebrows were raised when Barcelona announced a deal for the former Tottenham midfielder, who struggled to make an impact in the Premier League.

Paulinho is new boss Ernesto Valverde's most expensive addition since taking over at Barcelona this summer.

Despite a successful spell in China - two league titles, an Asian Champions League and a recall to the Brazil national team - some see the signing as something of a gamble.

Enes Unal - Man City to Villarreal

Fee: £12m (€13.2m)

The former Manchester City striker established himself as one of the Eredivisie's most feared forwards while on loan at FC Twente last season, scoring 18 goals in the Dutch top flight.

He now gets the chance to test himself at a higher level after leaving City permanently but the Premier League club have hedged their bets.

A buy-back clause in Unal's Villarreal contract means City can re-sign the forward for £17.5m.

Dani Ceballos - Real Betis to Real Madrid

Fee: £15m (€16m)

Real's other summer signing is one of La Liga's hottest prospects.

Ceballos was named Player of the Tournament as Spain reached the European U21 Championship final in June and Zinedine Zidane reportedly saw off competition from Barcelona to sign the youngster.

Ceballos was awarded Player of the Tournament at Euro 2017
Image: Ceballos was awarded Player of the Tournament at Euro 2017

Live La Liga Football

Adnan Januzaj - Manchester United to Real Sociedad

Fee: £9m (€10m)

Januzaj was once tipped to be Manchester United's next star but joins Real Sociedad after falling out of favour following disappointing loan stints at Borussia Dortmund and Sunderland.

The Belgian will be expected to replace MLS-bound Carlos Vela, who is set to leave for new franchise Los Angeles FC in January.

Nelson Semedo - Benfica to Barcelona

Fee: £26m (€28.6m)

The Portugal right-back is expected to challenge Aleix Vidal at the Nou Camp as Barca's search for a Dani Alves replacement continues more than a year after the Brazilian's departure.

Signed in July, Semedo famously clashed with Neymar during a pre-season training session in Miami prior to the forward's £200m switch to Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona have agreed to sign Nelson Semedo from Benfica
Image: Nelson Semedo has joined Barcelona from Benfica

Gerard Deulofeu - Everton to Barcelona

Fee: £10.5m (€12m)

Deulofeu has big shoes to fill having returned to Barca after the club activated a buy-back clause in his Everton contract.

The Spaniard, who was on the fringes of the Toffees first team, spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan but will be expected to contribute immediately following the loss of Neymar to PSG.

He played for Barca on Sunday but was underwhelming as the Catalans lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

Live Spanish Super Cup

Vitolo - Sevilla to Atletico Madrid via Las Palmas on loan

Fee: Undisclosed (loaned to Las Palmas)

Atletico Madrid's transfer ban means their one signing so far - Spain winger Vitolo - must spend the first half of this season on loan at Las Palmas.

It's a big coup for the club in the Canary Islands after Vitolo enjoyed a strong season at Sevilla last term, scoring six and assisting six in 30 league appearances.

Live La Liga Football

Luis Muriel - Sampdoria to Sevilla

Fee: £18m (€20m)

The Colombia international was once linked to both Liverpool and Everton but will be playing his football in Seville this season.

He scored 11 Serie A goals for Sampdoria last year and Sevilla hope his signing will help ease the loss of Vitolo and Yevhen Konoplyanka, who have joined Atletico Madrid and Schalke respectively.

Ryan Boudebouz - Montpellier to Real Betis

Fee: Undisclosed

Real Betis have been quick to reinvest the fee received for Ceballos, bringing in Cristian Tello from Barcelona, Sergio Leon from Osasuna, Victor Camarasa from Levante and Boudebouz from Montpellier.

Reportedly a target for West Ham earlier this summer, the Algeria international scored 11 goals and provided nine assists in Ligue 1 last season.

Montpellier's French midfielder Ryad Boudebouz (R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Montpellier and Marseille at
Image: Ryad Boudebouz (right) was impressive for Montpellier last season

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