Real Betis have signed Saint-Etienne central defender Paulao on a three-year deal, reports the club’s official website.
The 30-year-old spent the latter part of last season on loan with the Andalusians, making 17 appearances and helping Los Beticos to top-flight safety, and boss Pepe Mel has now made the arrangement permanent.
Paulao – real name Paulo Afonso Santos Junior – began his career with Atletico Mineiro in his native country and had spells at America-MG and Gama before moving to Portugal in 2006 with Naval.
A string of impressive performances saw him snapped up by Braga four years later, but despite just seven League games in his first season he made 34 appearances the following year, including seven as the club finished Europa League runners-up, and moved to Saint-Etienne on a free transfer last summer.