La Liga
The Sevilla transfer market has lost Petar Ratkov, a 23-year-old Serbian forward, in the last few hours after Lazio reached an agreement with Levante for his loan. This operation adds to Conrad Harder's exit to Strasbourg and the stalling of George Ilenikhena, leaving the Andalusian club with very little room before the market closes.
Petar Ratkov moves to Levante, leaving Sevilla without an alternative
Ratkov was one of the options Sevilla was considering to strengthen their attack, but Levante has secured the player from Lazio. The agreement involves a loan for 1 million euros and a purchase option set at 14 million euros, according to information released on Sunday by Gianluca Di Marzio.
This situation marks another setback for the Sevilla sports management. Ratkov joined Lazio in the last winter market from RB Salzburg for 13 million euros, and the Italian club had opened the door to a temporary exit to allow him more playing time.
The Serbian forward had scored 17 goals in 63 games for Salzburg before moving to Italy. His profile suited a lower-cost operation for Sevilla, but Levante's interest has ultimately defined his future.
LevanteUD snatches Serbian forward Petar Ratkov from SevillaFC. DiMarzio reports the agreement with Naples for his loan of 1 million euros with a 14M purchase option at the end of the season LaLiga pic.twitter.com/OWuf8pgPZA
— solofichajes123 (@solofichajes123) August 30, 2026
Conrad Harder and George Ilenikhena also move away
Prior to losing Ratkov, Sevilla had already seen the failed incorporation of Conrad Harder. The Danish forward owned by Leipzig will play on loan for a season at Strasbourg, which completed his arrival this Sunday.
Harder had gained importance in Sevilla's planning after other alternatives became complicated. Nevertheless, Strasbourg progressed in negotiations, leaving the Nervión outfit without an operation that had been under consideration for the final days of the market.
George Ilenikhena's situation had encountered different challenges. The 19-year-old forward belongs to Al-Ittihad, who paid 33 million euros to Monaco for his signing, and financial difficulties linked to that transaction blocked his loan exit.
Sevilla had tried to find a loan solution for Ilenikhena, but the Saudi club hindered his departure. The operation had progressed but eventually lost feasibility.
Sevilla must pursue another avenue before closure
With Ratkov committed to Levante and Harder heading to Strasbourg, Sevilla needs to find a new alternative to complete its attack. The market remains open until September 1 at midnight, providing the sports management with very little time.
The priority is still to sign a forward, but economic constraints limit the available options. José Ignacio Navarro has stated that the club needs to create financial room through departures while striving to complete the squad.
Sevilla's next move will be to search for a new option after consecutively losing George Ilenikhena, Conrad Harder, and Petar Ratkov. With the market closing on September 1, the club must hasten negotiations to cover a position that remains vacant.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Problemón en el Sevilla
