Sitting in La Liga's relegation zone (18th place), Granada needed to make a move to bring in reinforcements. Today, Club America announced that 25-year-old wingback Miguel Layun is Los Nazaries' first signing of the winter transfer window via America's Twitter account.
The Mexico international, who can be deployed as both a left wingback and a wide left midfielder, joins the Spanish side on a contract which will run until 2019, according to reports out of Spain. Granada are believed to have paid Club America $5-8 million U.S. dollars, for Layun's services.
However, Layun will not be starting 2015 with Granada, as the side managed by Joaquin Caparros has loaned him to sister club Watford, which plays in the English Championship. Watford currently sits fifth in the Championship table, seven points behind Ipswich Town for the final automatic promotion place.
The Mexico international and Veracruz native previously played in Europe in 2009-2010 with Atalanta before moving to Club America on a $2.5M transfer fee. After a successful 2014 FIFA World Cup, Layun had expressed a desire to returning to the Old Continent. Despite that, Turkish giants Besiktas were believed to have had an earlier bid turned down for Layun.
After the move was announced, he thanked Club America and los Americanistas on Twitter, saying "Thank you to the organization (and fans) at Club America for all the support they have given me, this will be a new challenge and a dream to strive for! THANK YOU ALL!"