Czech Republic midfielder Ladislav Krejci has joined La Liga side Girona from Sparta Prague on a five-year contract, the Spanish club announced on Friday.

Girona, who will play the Champions League next season after finishing third in La Liga, reportedly paid 12 million euros ($12.8 million) for Krejci, according to Czech media.

The 25-year-old centre-back or defensive midfielder is valued for his aerial play and led Sparta to two successive titles as captain in 2023 and 2024.

"This is a moment every footballer with dreams and ambitions longs for," Krejci said in a video message.

Krejci scored 44 goals in 148 games for Sparta, many of them headers, after joining the club in 2019.

He has also managed three goals in 10 international games for the Czech Republic.

Krejci left the Czech Republic team ahead of Euro 2024 to complete the transfer before rejoining the team at its base near Hamburg, Germany, on Thursday evening.

The Czech Republic will begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Portugal on June 18.