Real Madrid have officially completed the signing of highly-rated young striker Carlos Espi from Levante U.D. in a €25 million deal, the club announced Thursday night.
Espí Signs Until 2031: Real Madrid Land La Liga’s Best U-23 Forward
The Spanish giants moved swiftly to secure the 21-year-old’s services after activating his release clause, beating Premier League sides Brighton & Hove Albion and Hull City to the signature.
🚨💣 BREAKING: Real Madrid sign Carlos Espí as new striker, here we go! 💥
€25m release clause activated from Levante with formal letter sent to the club tonight.
Spanish striker joins immediately with medical in Madrid today. pic.twitter.com/hpyLcP9Y7Z
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 30, 2026
The forward has committed his future to the Santiago Bernabeu for the next five seasons, signing a contract that will keep him at the club until June 2031.
Espí’s arrival comes on the same day that Real Madrid finalized the departure of Gonzalo Garcia to Fulham, leaving a vacancy in the attacking department that the club moved quickly to fill.
The young striker perfectly addresses a profile that Los Blancos identified as a priority following Garcia’s exit.
The Spanish forward has enjoyed a meteoric rise at Levante, where he broke into the first team three seasons ago.
During his time at the Ciutat de Valencia, Espi made 66 appearances and found the net 20 times, establishing himself as one of La Liga’s most promising attacking talents.
His breakthrough campaign last season earned him recognition as the league’s Best U-23 Player, cementing his reputation as a future star of Spanish football.
Real Madrid’s official statement confirmed the transfer, welcoming the player to the club:
“Real Madrid C.F. and Levante U.D. have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Carlos Espí, who will be linked to our club for the next five seasons.”
The striker brings international experience to the Spanish capital, having represented Spain at both the U-19 and U-20 levels.
His composure in front of goal and intelligent movement off the ball have drawn comparisons to some of Spain’s finest forwards, and Real Madrid’s hierarchy believes they have secured a player who can develop into a world-class talent.
The club fought off significant interest from English clubs, with Brighton and Hull City both monitoring the situation closely.
However, Real Madrid’s rapid response and willingness to trigger the release clause ultimately proved decisive in securing the player’s signature.
Espí will now look to make his mark at the Bernabéu and establish himself in Jose Mourinho’s first-team plans as Real Madrid continue to build for the future.
