What Happened to Giovani Lo Celso?
Giovani Lo Celso is an Argentine professional footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for La Liga club Real Betis and the Argentina national team. After several loan spells and a permanent move to Tottenham Hotspur, he returned to Real Betis in August 2024. As of June 2026, he has been selected for Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, marking a significant milestone in his international career.
Quick Answer
Giovani Lo Celso is currently playing for Real Betis Balompié in La Liga, having made a permanent return to the club in August 2024 after his tenure with Tottenham Hotspur. Despite facing several injury setbacks in the 2025-2026 season, he has been included in Argentina's final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he is expected to make his tournament debut. There were strong transfer rumors linking him to Inter Miami in late 2025, though he remained with Betis.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Senior Debut for Rosario Central
Giovani Lo Celso made his senior league debut for Rosario Central against Vélez Sarsfield.
Joins Paris Saint-Germain
Lo Celso signed with Paris Saint-Germain, though he was loaned back to Rosario Central until January 2017.
Loan to Real Betis
He joined Real Betis on a season-long loan, where he had a highly successful spell, scoring 16 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions.
Permanent Move to Real Betis
Real Betis exercised their option to sign Lo Celso permanently for €22 million.
Loan to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur signed Lo Celso on a season-long loan with an option to make the transfer permanent.
Permanent Transfer to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham made Lo Celso's move permanent for £27 million, signing him until 2025.
Copa América Winner
Lo Celso was part of the Argentina squad that won the Copa América.
Loan to Villarreal (First Spell)
He joined Villarreal on loan for the remainder of the 2021-2022 season, helping them reach the Champions League semi-finals.
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions Winner
Lo Celso won the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions with Argentina.
Loan to Villarreal (Second Spell)
Lo Celso returned to Villarreal for a second loan spell for the 2022-2023 season.
Permanent Return to Real Betis
Giovani Lo Celso rejoined Real Betis permanently from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of €5 million, signing a contract until June 2028.
Inter Miami Transfer Rumors Intensify
Reports indicated Inter Miami was aggressively pursuing Lo Celso for the winter transfer window, with Real Betis reportedly willing to sell for around €5 million.
Suffers Thigh Injury
Lo Celso sustained a thigh injury that sidelined him until April 11, 2026, impacting his playing time for Real Betis.
Named in Argentina's 2026 World Cup Squad
Giovani Lo Celso was included in Lionel Scaloni's final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking his potential debut in the tournament.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Giovani Lo Celso's professional career has seen him move between top European clubs and establish himself as a key player for the Argentina national team. His journey began at Rosario Central before a move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2016, where he gained early European experience and won multiple domestic titles.
His first significant impact in La Liga came during a loan spell at Real Betis in the 2018-2019 season, where his impressive performances led to a permanent transfer. This caught the attention of Tottenham Hotspur, who initially signed him on loan in August 2019, making the move permanent in January 2020 for approximately £27 million. However, his time at Tottenham was often hampered by injuries and inconsistent form, leading to two loan spells at Villarreal in 2022 and 2023, where he rediscovered some of his best form and helped the club reach the Champions League semi-finals.
In August 2024, Lo Celso made a permanent return to Real Betis for a fee of €5 million, signing a contract until June 2028. The 2025-2026 season at Betis saw him continue to be an important, though sometimes injury-plagued, figure. He made 24 appearances in La Liga, scoring 2 goals, and played 6 matches in the UEFA Europa League. He suffered several muscle and thigh injuries throughout late 2025 and early 2026, including a thigh injury from January 23 to April 11, 2026.
Despite these physical challenges, Lo Celso's standing with the Argentina national team remained high. He was a key part of the squads that won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions in 2022. A significant development in May 2026 was his inclusion in Lionel Scaloni's final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, offering him the chance to make his World Cup debut at age 30, having missed the 2022 tournament due to injury and being an unused squad member in 2018.
As of June 11, 2026, Lo Celso remains with Real Betis, with his market value estimated around €10 million. While there were strong rumors in December 2025 about a potential move to Inter Miami to reunite with Lionel Messi, and other links to clubs like River Plate and Rennes in early 2026, he ultimately stayed in Spain. His focus is now on the upcoming World Cup with Argentina and his continued role at Real Betis.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Giovani Lo Celso made different choices?