Real Madrid have agreed to loan defender Royston Drenthe to Primera Division newcomers Hercules for the 2010/11 season, the capital club have confirmed on their website.

The 23-year-old Dutchman joined Madrid from Feyenoord in 2007 for a reported €14 million (£9.5m) but he has struggled for playing time at the Bernabeu.

Drenthe becomes Hercules' 10th signing of the summer, and follows hot on the heels of yesterday's capture of French FIFA World Cup™ winner David Trezeguet on a two-year contract.

Alicante-based Hercules returned to the Spanish top flight this summer after an absence of 13 years.