Real Sociedad have signed Real Madrid defender Diego Llorente in a permanent deal.

Llorente has joined La Real on a five-year contract.

"It is an important step in my career, after two years of loans it was time to take another step and there is no better way to do it in a big club like Real.

"I had many years in Real Madrid, it has not been easy to take this step, but I think it is the right one," said Llorente.

"For different reasons we are forced to leave in search of minutes, but there are also cases of players from the juniors that do find a place in their team.

"It is that Real Madrid is a big club, but I think it was time to make the jump and I will always have a special affection for Madrid, and I will thank them because I am what I am thanks to Madrid."