He left Madrid for Deportivo in 2006, having played just two matches for the Real first team.

He was a reserve for Spain at Euro 2008.

New Real coach Manuel Pellegrini has been keen to strengthen a Real defence which sagged alarmingly at the end of last season.

Arbeloa is Real's sixth summer signing - after Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Raul Albiol and Esteban Granero - and takes their record-breaking spending spree above 220 million euros.

Pellegrini is also keen to buy Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who will cost around 30 million euros, but Benitez has urged him to see out the remainder of his three-year contract.