Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa joins Granada on year-long loan
The Mexico goalkeeper will hope a move within Spain will lead to more playing time after a largely frustrating transfer to Malaga after the 2014 World Cup.
Guillermo Ochoa will join Granada on loan for the upcoming season, the La Liga side announced Friday.
The Mexico goalkeeper was one of the stars of the 2014 World Cup, putting in a memorable performance in a scoreless draw against host Brazil during the group stage. That, plus consistently strong showings with Ligue 1 side Ajaccio helped earn him a move from France to Malaga.
But his career stalled there, as he was stuck behind Cameroon goalkeeper Carlos Kameni and played zero league minutes in the 2014-15 season. Ochoa eventually saw time at Malaga with Kameni injured but now moves to Paco Jemez's side, where he'll have high hopes of winning the No. 1 job.
"The arrival of a goalkeeper was one of the needs for the new project of the "Nazari" outfit, which is why Granada CF has arrived at an agreement with the Malagan club for the loan of Ochoa, a goalkeeper with great experience and at an ideal age to find himself in his best professional form," read a Granada club statement.
Despite the lull in club activity, Ochoa continued to represent El Tri, winning the Gold Cup with Mexico in 2015 and being part of current manager Juan Carlos Osorio's goalkeeper rotation in the 2016 Copa America Centenario.
The 31-year-old will go through his first training session with Granada on Tuesday and also will be presented the same day.