Forgotten Arsenal star Sokratis finally agrees return to football and will link up with former team-mate

SOKRATIS PAPASTATHOPOULOS is reportedly close to sealing a deal to join Real Betis.

The former Arsenal star has been a free agent since leaving Olympiacos at the end of last season.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos is set to join a new clubGetty

The free agent will reportedly reunite with Hector Bellerin at Real BetisGetty

Sokratis, 35, spent three years at Arsenal before returning to his homeland.

The defender joined the Gunners in 2018 after moving from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

However, his contract was mutually terminated in January 2021, having made 69 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Sokratis also won the FA Cup with the North London outfit in 2020.

The Greek ace is not set to join his former Arsenal team-mate Hector Bellerin at Real Betis.

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the defender has reached an agreement with the club to join as a free agent.

It is claimed that he will undergo medical tests on Thursday before putting pen to paper on a deal running until 2024.

Bellerin, 28, is in his second stint at Betis, having spent time on loan at the club during the 2021-22 season.

The Spaniard left Arsenal permanently that summer as he made the move to Barcelona.

However, Bellerin failed to impress at the Camp Nou and left the Catalonian giants after one season.

He moved to Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon but again struggled to find his best form.

The full-back has now found his feet again and has become a regular under former Manchester City and West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini.