Confirmed: Real Madrid sign 21-year-old La Liga striker on five year deal | OneFootball

As Gonzalo Garcia nears his big-money move to the Premier League, Real Madrid immediately grew interested in signing a low-cost striker talent to take the Spaniard’s place for next season.

In a matter of hours, the name of Carlos Espi sounded loudly within the club administration, and Real Madrid liked the Levante striker as a promising young option with a high ceiling.

It was expected that contacts would grow over the coming days before a deal could be struck, but what nobody expected was for the deal to be closed, confirmed and announced in a matter of hours.

Espi is a Real Madrid player

In an official announcement late last night, Real Madrid confirmed that they have signed Espi from Levante on a permanent transfer by triggering his release clause.

“Real Madrid C. F. and the Levante U. D. have agreed to the transfer of the player Carlos Espí, who remains linked to our club for the next five seasons, until June 30, 2031,” the official notice read.

Espi is a new Real Madrid player. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

They also announced the player’s statistics from his time at Levante to bring his talent into perspective, stating that he has played 66 games for Levante and scored 20 goals. 

Real Madrid also included in the announcement that Espi was the best under-23 player in the league last season.

How much did Real Madrid pay?

Espi’s release clause was placed at €25 million, and that is the sum that Real Madrid have shelled out to secure his services. 

Real Madrid paid out the forward’s release clause. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

In a matter of hours, they reached an agreement with him, completed his medicals and paid out the clause, completing all the formalities and announcing the signing.

Espi’s contract with Real Madrid now runs until 2031, and the fact that the club handed him a five-year contract is testament to the fact that they believe in him as part of the long-term project.

The youngster will thus serve as the team’s backup striker next season, playing as Kylian Mbappe’s deputy. What remains in doubt, however, is how his arrival will impact the situation of Endrick who was also vying for the same backup striker void.