Spanish side Rayo Vallecano has signed central defender Luiz Felipe Ramos on a free transfer, the club announced on 7 July. The 28-year-old Italo-Brazilian agreed a one-year contract after leaving Olympique de Marseille last month. Marseille and the player mutually terminated his deal on 30 June, only six months after he arrived from Saudi club Al-Ittihad. Persistent fitness problems restricted Luiz Felipe to four Ligue 1 appearances, prompting the French club to end a contract that had originally been due to run until 2026. The move returns Luiz Felipe to La Liga, where he previously played the 2022-23 season for Real Betis. Rayo, which finished eighth in Spain’s top flight last term, adds an experienced defender as it prepares for the 2025-26 campaign.