After 16 years with Real Madrid, midfielder Esteban Granero agreed to a four-year deal with Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League Thursday.

The move could also increase Los Blancos apparent interest in Lille's Mathieu Debuchy.

Granero first joined Real at the age of nine and made his way up the ranks from their youth academy to the first team.

QPR manager Mark Hughes was thrilled to bring the Spaniard to Loftus Park.

"He has got great energy and is technically very gifted, as you would expect from a Real Madrid player," Hughes said. "He is very comfortable on the ball and is an all-round excellent midfielder, which we will benefit from."

Since 2009, Granero made 67 appearances with Real's first team and scored four goals. He spent two seasons with Getafe on loan from 2007 to 2009, and also appeared in 10 Spain U-21 matches.

As one player left reports emerged Thursday that Los Blancos were in pursuit of Debuchy, but Lillie refuted those claims.

The 27-year-old defender was linked with Newcastle for most of the summer, but on Thursday speculation had Debuchy traveling to Spain to work out a contract with Real.

According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle hoped an offer of £6 million would clinch the deal with Lille, but Los Blancos manager Jose Mourinho stepped in and would be willing to offer £9.5 million.

Real currently has Alvaro Arbelloa, but very little depth in their back line, and Debuchy could give Mourinho's line-up much more flexibility.

Debuchy has spent his entire career with Lille, appearing in 218 matches and scoring 15 goals.

Real Madrid Real Madrid