Los Blancos have moved fast to solve their number nine problem. Real Madrid have officially confirmed the signing of striker Carlos Espí from Levante, with the club triggering the €25 million release clause in the 21-year-old’s contract within hours of the news breaking. With Gonzalo García on his way to Fulham, the club triggered Carlos Espí’s €25 million release clause at Levante within hours, tying the 21-year-old to the Bernabéu until June 2031.
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How the Deal Came Together
Real Madrid’s interest in activating the €25m release clause in the 21-year-old’s contract was reported by Marca on Thursday (July 30). Los Blancos reportedly sold Gonzalo Garcia to Fulham early on Thursday, and then reports started rolling out about potential interest in the 21-year-old striker. Real Madrid acted very quickly and paid off his release clause worth 25 million euros, fighting off interest from English clubs like Brighton and Hull City.
Real Madrid have finalized the signing of Carlos Espí after paying the €25 million release clause to Levante UD, with the young forward arriving at the Santiago Bernabéu to strengthen the squad for the current season. The club decided to trigger the striker’s release clause immediately after one of the most notable sales of the summer transfer window was completed.
The Official Club Statement
Real Madrid released a formal statement confirming the transfer: “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, until June 30, 2031.”
The statement continued: “At 21 years old, Carlos Espí has played three seasons at Levante, during which he appeared in 66 matches and scored 20 goals.” Last season, he was named the best U-23 player in the league. Carlos Espí is an international player for Spain at the U-19 and U-20 levels.
Transfer Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Carlos Espí (Escrihuela) |
| From | Levante UD |
| To | Real Madrid |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Age | 21 |
| Date of Birth | July 24, 2005 |
| Position | Centre-Forward |
| Transfer Method | €25 Million Release Clause |
| Contract Length | Five Years |
| New Contract Expiry | June 30, 2031 |
| Award | Best U-23 Player, 2025-26 |
| International Level | Spain U-19, U-20 |
Why Real Madrid Moved So Quickly
Espí’s arrival responds to the need to fill a key vacancy in Madrid’s forward line. Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho made it clear to the club upon his appointment that he wanted to bring in a box-dominant striker for the 2026-27 season, and Carlos Espi will provide a very different profile to what is available at the club with Kylian Mbappe and Endrick, especially due to his aerial ability.
Los Blancos would see this as an opportunity to replace Gonzalo García with Espí while earning around €20 million in the process, given that Gonzalo is set to become a Fulham player for €40 million. He has been closely monitored by the club for a while, with some reports dating their interest in him back to 2023.
The Player Real Madrid Beat Everyone To
Espí was firmly on the radar of several Premier League clubs before Madrid struck. Espí was already on plenty of radars before this deal came together, with Everton, Leeds United, and Aston Villa all credibly linked with his release clause in England over the summer, with reports as recently as this week describing him as “on his way to the Premier League”.
Espí was set to sign for Hull City but he has decided to wait after learning of Real Madrid’s interest.
Espí’s Career Stats at a Glance
Espí had a sensational 2025-26 for Levante, scoring 11 goals in his 25 LaLiga games, just 13 of which were from the first whistle.
| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Levante | Segunda División | Debut Season | — |
| 2024-25 | Levante | LaLiga | — | — |
| 2025-26 | Levante | LaLiga | 25 | 11 |
| Career Total | Levante | All Competitions | 66 | 20 |
From Local Academy to the Bernabéu
Carlos Espí Escrihuela was born on July 24, 2005, in Tavernes de la Valldigna, a small town on the Valencian coast, and he joined Levante’s academy in 2022 from local side UD Alzira, making his first-team debut in February 2024, aged 18, in a Segunda División fixture against Racing de Ferrol.
The 6’4 striker displayed various techniques to finish off chances predominantly in the box, earning a reputation for being a penalty box expert. His profile has drawn early comparisons to a previous Madrid forward: there are also shades of the raw, unfinished Joselu who arrived at Madrid on a short-term deal and outperformed expectations largely on movement and finishing instinct alone, with Espí having more physical upside than Joselu had at the same stage, and considerably more time to develop it.
Part of a Bigger Reshuffle
Espí’s arrival is directly tied to Real Madrid’s business elsewhere this summer. The signing of the Levante striker comes in to make up for the departure of Gonzalo, who was transferred to Premier League side Fulham for a fixed fee of €40 million, and with this deal, Los Blancos have reshaped their attack while generating a significant financial surplus.
The club has also been busy on other fronts, having reached an agreement to sell midfielder Cesar Palacios to Fulham this summer, with the 21-year-old Spaniard set to follow Gonzalo Garcia to the Premier League in a double deal orchestrated by Alvaro Arbeloa.
What Comes Next
Espí now joins a Real Madrid squad in the middle of a significant summer rebuild under José Mourinho. Having beaten off competition from multiple Premier League suitors, the striker will look to build on the momentum of being named the league’s best U-23 talent as he begins life at one of the biggest clubs in world football, with five years to prove he can fill the void left by Gonzalo García’s departure.
Read More: Gonzalo García Joins Fulham – Deal Completed With Real Madrid For €40M Fixed Fee
Also Read: Cesar Palacios Joins Fulham – Deal Agreed On Both Player And Club Side With Real Madrid For €10M
FAQs
Has Real Madrid officially confirmed the signing of Carlos Espí?
Yes. Real Madrid have officially announced the signing of striker Carlos Espí from Levante, confirming the transfer through an official club statement that ties the player to the Bernabéu until June 30, 2031.
How much did Real Madrid pay for Carlos Espí?
Real Madrid activated the €25 million release clause in Espí’s Levante contract to complete the signing, acting quickly to beat several interested Premier League clubs to his signature.
Which clubs were competing with Real Madrid for Espí’s signature?
Real Madrid fought off interest from English clubs including Brighton, Hull City, Everton, Leeds United, and Aston Villa, with Espí reportedly close to signing for Hull City before pausing talks once Real Madrid’s interest became known.
Why did Real Madrid sign Espí immediately after selling Gonzalo García?
Espí’s signing was designed to directly replace Gonzalo García, who departed for Fulham in a deal worth close to €40 million. Manager José Mourinho had specifically requested a box-dominant, aerially strong striker, a profile Espí fits perfectly.
What has Carlos Espí achieved in his career so far?
In three seasons at Levante, Espí made 66 appearances and scored 20 goals, including 11 goals in 25 LaLiga appearances in the 2025-26 season alone. He was named the best U-23 player in LaLiga last season and holds international caps for Spain at U-19 and U-20 level.
