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Getafe seal Nemanja Gudelj from Sevilla on free transfer
The 34-year-old Serbia midfielder arrives on a free transfer after a decade of top-flight experience across Europe.
Veteran midfielder Nemanja Gudelj has completed a free transfer from Sevilla to Getafe, the club announcing the deal on 29 August 2026. The Serbia international, who turns 35 next month, joins Getafe without a transfer fee after his contract at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán expired. A La Liga campaign under his belt in 2025/26, Gudelj arrives as a proven ball-winner with a CV spanning the Eredivisie, Primeira Liga, Chinese Super League and now two spells in Spain.
At a glance
- Age: 34 | Position: Midfielder | Nationality: Serbia
- Move: Free transfer, 29 Aug 2026 — Sevilla to Getafe
- Fee: Undisclosed (free agent)
Career context
Gudelj's journey has covered considerable ground. He began in the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar, moving from NAC Breda for €2.5M in 2013, before a €6M switch to Ajax the following year. A €5.5M move to Tianjin Teda in 2017 took him to China, followed by a loan to Sporting CP in 2018 and a permanent free transfer to Guangzhou Evergrande FC later that same year. A free move to Sevilla in 2019 brought him to Spain, where he spent seven seasons and collected two UEFA Europa League titles (2019/2020, 2022/2023) plus a UEFA Super Cup runners-up medal in 2023.
His trophy cabinet is extensive, with domestic honours in Portugal — a Taça da Liga and Taça de Portugal double in 2018/19 — and a Super Cup win in China in 2018. The Netherlands yielded two Eredivisie second-place finishes and a Johan Cruyff Schaal runners-up spot in 2013.
The path to Getafe was gradual. His Sevilla registration lapsed into free-agency status on 29 June 2026, before the formal transfer to Getafe was confirmed two months later.
How he fits at his new club
Gudelj is listed as a midfielder with strong defensive attributes — a profile that suits Getafe's traditionally combative, mid-block approach. His API-Football attributes score him 54 in defence, 86 in duels and 46 in technique, with a comparatively modest 20 in attack and 9 in creation. That suggests a player built for breaking up play rather than generating it.
Over the 2025/26 season he completed 35 appearances across all competitions, starting 33 of them and coming on as a substitute twice. His 96 duels won at a 50% success rate, 36 tackles, 27 interceptions and 18 blocks indicate a high work-rate in midfield, while 43 fouls committed and 10 yellow cards suggest he is not shy about committing. With 1,158 passes attempted and a pass accuracy of 44%, his distribution is functional rather than progressive.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
For a Getafe side that often prioritises defensive solidity and collective shape, those numbers align with a holding or box-to-box role — someone to shield the backline and recycle possession in deeper areas.
Recent numbers
Last season's returns across all competitions:
- Apps: 35 (33 starts, 2 substitute appearances)
- Minutes: 2,460
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 0
- Rating: 6.66
- Duels won: 96 / 193 (50%)
- Tackles: 36 | Interceptions: 27 | Blocks: 18
- Passes: 1,158 | Key passes: 7
- Yellow cards: 10 | Red cards: 0
In La Liga specifically, he played 2,370 minutes across 34 appearances, scoring twice and providing no assists, with a 6.67 rating. A single Copa del Rey outing added 90 minutes and one yellow card.
His injury history shows recent interruptions, including a groin problem in March 2025 and a hip issue in August 2024, but he was not listed as injured at the time of the transfer.
Key takeaways
| Metric | Gudelj (2025/26) | Profile match |
|---|---|---|
| Duels won % | 50% | High engagement |
| Tackles + interceptions | 63 | Defensive output |
| Passes attempted | 1,158 | Ball progression |
| Fouls committed | 43 | Aggressive style |
- Brings seven years of La Liga experience and European pedigree to Getafe's midfield.
- Profile suggests a holding or box-to-box role, complementing rather than leading attacks.
- At 34, represents short-term cover with proven durability — 2,460 minutes played last season.
- Free transfer means no financial risk, though his injury history (most recently a groin issue in March 2025) is a consideration.
- His defensive attributes (54) and duel rating (86) align with Getafe's typical midfield demands.
Getafe have moved early in the window to add experience and grit to their engine room, and Gudelj's arrival should provide immediate competition and cover across the middle of the park.