La Liga club Villarreal have announced the signing of Cristian Espinoza from Huracán for a fee of €7.2 million despite the 21-year-old currently being in Rio de Janeiro with the Argentina Olympic squad.

Espinoza has come through the youth ranks at Huracán from the youngest category at the club to the first team but has now agreed a five-year deal with the Submarino Amarillo.

The lightning quick forward has rarely looked out of place in the Huracán attack since making his debut in 2013, when the club was battling for promotion from the B Nacional and has gone on to help the club lift the Copa Argentina and the Supercopa.

#CVFEnglish | Villarreal CF sign Cristian Espinoza! Welcome to the Submarine Cristian! https://t.co/2BZaicq77o pic.twitter.com/pzJxfpbDEs

— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) August 4, 2016

It isn’t only at club level where Espinoza has shone after playing a significant role in the Argentina under-20s winning the South American Championships in 2015.

Lining up alongside Giovanni Simeone and Ángel Correa in attack, Espinoza flourished and as Los Pibes lifted the trophy, the Huracán youngster ended the tournament leading the assist ranking.

With his release clause met it is a deal that appears to be beneficial to all parties but that doesn’t prevent Espinoza being a loss to Huracán coach Eduardo Dominguez.

Over 100 games for the first team with 14 goals and 23 assists, Espinoza has a wealth of experience for a player of his age but despite being with the club almost his entire life it is a good move for his development.

Villarreal should provide a good environment for the forward to progress and he will certainly look to the example of Luciano Vietto, who enjoyed such success at the Estadio de El Madrigal.

Espinoza also featured prominently in our countdown of the 50 best Argentine youngsters earlier in the year.