Sabadell’s aggressive summer recruitment continues to shake the water polo world, as the Spanish champions add another top-tier talent to their squad—Hungarian star Rita Keszthelyi.
Following the high-profile acquisitions of Simone Van de Kraats and Laura Aarts, Sabadell is clearly making a statement for the upcoming season, with Keszthelyi being the latest to make the switch from rivals Mataro.
Keszthelyi, alongside Van de Kraats, was instrumental in Mataro’s successful title run this season, which also saw the club claim the Copa Catalunya. Her departure to Sabadell marks a significant shift in the balance of power in Spanish water polo.
A veteran of the sport, Keszthelyi boasts an illustrious career spanning multiple clubs and international success. This move marks the ninth club of her professional journey, which began with Hungarian powerhouse UVSE. Since then, she has won national titles with Szentes, Dunaujvaros, and Eger, as well as competing with Italy’s Orizzonte Catania.
Keszthelyi’s experience extends beyond club water polo. As a three-time Olympian, she has been a key figure for the Hungarian national team for over a decade. In 2016, she captained her country to European Championship gold, and in recent years, has added World Championship silver medals (2022 and 2024) and an Olympic bronze from Tokyo 2020 to her long list of achievements.
With Keszthelyi now on board, Sabadell’s ambitions are clear—they’re not just looking to retain their European crown but to dominate both domestically and internationally in the seasons to come.