WATCH: The best transfer announcement EVER - GTA IV: Real Betis Edition

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 20 Aug 2021 11:34 BST
• 3 min read

Real Betis have won the award for the best transfer announcement of the summer so far.

On Thursday evening, they confirmed the signing of Fiorentina defender German Pezzella for a fee of €3.5 m.

And, for the announcement, they released a video in the style of Grand Theft Auto.

In the video, Pezzella makes his way to the Benito Villamarin, signs his contract, and is presented with a new Betis shirt by compatriot Guido Rodriguez.

All the while the screen is filled with the classic GTA template, including the map, money, and what the player is holding.

In this case, it's a pen.

Pezzella previously played for Betis before moving to Fiorentina so is certainly not a stranger to the surroundings in Andalusia.

Other great transfer announcements

Paolo Di Canio to Sheffield Wednesday saw one of the stranger transfer unveilings ever. Along with new teammate Benito Carbone, Di Canio was unveiled while taking a bite of a pizza, as Sheffield tried to embrace its new Italian star.

Santi Cazorla to Villarreal also saw an unusual unveiling. Having signed from Arsenal, after being told he'd never play football again, Cazorla's return to the game was a miracle, as was his unveiling.

The club decided to use a smoke-filled container in which Cazorla would appear after a magician's touch.

It worked quite well, although only 1,000 fans were there to see it live.

Bryan Robson to Middlesbrough wasn't traditional in any way. Robson was announced as player-manager, and the club decided the best way to unveil him would be to wear half the football kit from the waist down, and a suit and tie on his upper body.

A very strange way to announce your new player-manager, but the move worked out as Boro were able to attract stars with the name of Robson in the dugout