It brings Galan back to Balaidos three years after he left Celta Vigo for Atletico Madrid. He was a fixture the first time round, racking up 79 appearances across two seasons and chipping in with a goal and seven assists.
Left-back has been a problem position for Celta Vigo boss Claudio Giraldez all summer, especially with Ristic shown the door and no specialist option left in the squad. Galan, 31, was his number one target to fill it, and now he's got his man.
He becomes Celta Vigo's second arrival of the window, following midfielder Aleix Febas through the door, and will link up with his new-old teammates for pre-season next week back in celeste colours.
The club rolled out the red carpet for his return.
"His return means a reunion with a club where he left a great memory, both for his performances on the pitch and for the commitment and dedication he always showed defending the Celta shirt. After closing his first spell at Celta, Javi went on to Atletico Madrid in the 2023-24 season.
"Since then, he has continued gaining experience in competitions including the UEFA Champions League, the Supercopa de Espana and the FIFA Club World Cup. Having also spent time at Real Sociedad and Osasuna, the defender returns to Celta to take on a new and exciting challenge at a club he knows perfectly well."
Galan is walking away from Osasuna despite the Pamplona club holding a unilateral option to keep him for two more seasons, one he chose not to trigger. His journey back to Vigo has taken in Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad and Osasuna, and Celta Vigo now have a left-back with Champions League and Club World Cup pedigree at the cost of precisely nothing.
Atletico Madrid signed Galan from Celta Vigo back in the summer of 2023 for around five million euros plus Manu Sanchez heading the other way, before loan spells at Real Sociedad and Osasuna followed, the latter yielding around 30 appearances this past season. Getting him for free is smart business for a Celta Vigo side gearing up for Europa League football next season and still busy filling out the rest of the squad before pre-season starts.