MADRID, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Real Betis has signed winger Rodrigo Riquelme from Atletico Madrid, with Betis having paid around eight million euros (9.5 million U.S. dollars) for 50 percent of the registration rights for the 25-year-old, who has been with Atletico Madrid for the past six years.

The deal means Riquelme will play for Betis next season, but the Seville-based outfit will have to share any hypothetical future transfer fee with Atletico.

Riquelme leaves after 75 first-team appearances for Atletico, although he had a more reduced role in Diego Simeone's side last season, with just 16 appearances in La Liga as opposed to 34 the previous campaign. ■