Real Betis have announced the signing of Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

The former Real Madrid and Tottenham star joins Betis in a Bosman deal.

Betis won promotion to the Primera Division last season under the guidance of coach Pepe Mel.

Van der Vaart has signed a three-year deal with Betis this week.

"The thing that convinced me was a conversation with the director Eduardo Macia," said the midfielder. "He described the club as the fourth most important in Spain.

"Getting Betis back on top is a wonderful project."