Troy Parrott poised to join Real Betis in 20m euros deal
On 18 August 2026 Real Betis entered advanced talks with AZ Alkmaar over a 20m euros (£17.1m) transfer for Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott, with an agreement between the Dutch club and the Spanish side reported to be close. The 24-year-old forward, capped 37 times by Ireland, is the subject of interest after a prolific season in the Netherlands.
Parrott began his senior international career against New Zealand in November 2019 and started his club career at Tottenham. He moved to AZ Alkmaar in July 2024 from Spurs after spending the previous season on loan at Excelsior Rotterdam, and West Ham had been heavily linked with a move for him before Betis entered talks.
Parrott began last season in prolific form, scoring 10 goals in his first seven appearances for AZ, but a knee ligament injury sustained at the end of August kept him out until October. Despite that setback he finished the Dutch league campaign with 16 goals in 28 games.
On the international stage Parrott helped the Republic of Ireland secure qualification for the World Cup play-offs. In November last year he scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Portugal and three days later added a hat-trick, including a 96th-minute winner, in a 3-2 win away to Hungary.
His hat-trick in Hungary made him the first Republic of Ireland player to score a hat-trick in an away game for the men's team and the first Irish player to record a competitive treble for the men's side since Robbie Keane in 2014. Parrott has been capped 37 times for his country.
Heimir Hallgrimsson remains the Ireland manager and Parrott is again set to be a pivotal player for the squad in the forthcoming Nations League, in which Ireland will face Kosovo, Austria and Israel in Group B3. Real Betis finished fifth in La Liga in the 2025-26 season, securing qualification for the Champions League.
An agreement between AZ Alkmaar and Real Betis is reported to be close, which would complete the proposed 20m euros (£17.1m) transfer; Betis's fifth-place finish in 2025-26 means the club will compete in the Champions League.
