Real Madrid are tracking a 20-year-old German gem to bolster defence | OneFootball

Real Madrid continues to scour the market in search of promising center-backs. After signing Dean Huijsen and Ibrahima Konaté in recent transfer windows, the club is keeping its search open and now has one of German football’s young prospects on its radar: Finn Jeltsch, Stuttgart’s center-back.

At just 20 years old, the defender has started to draw attention for his development in the Bundesliga and has already received his first call-up to the senior Germany national team.

A position Madrid wants to keep under control

Jeltsch’s arrival would not be in response to an immediate need. Real Madrid currently has Huijsen, Konaté, Raúl Asencio, Antonio Rüdiger, and Éder Militão as options in central defense.

However, there are two situations keeping the club alert to the market. Rüdiger’s contract expires at the end of the season, and his future will depend, among other factors, on his performances. In Militão’s case, Madrid has full confidence in his abilities, although his history of serious injuries forces the club to consider different scenarios.

That is why the sporting department continues to monitor young center-backs who could become medium- and long-term options.

Jeltsch, Stuttgart’s new jewel

Jeltsch came through the youth ranks at Nürnberg before joining Stuttgart in January 2025. His adaptation was almost immediate, and he began to rack up minutes despite his young age.

Last season he played close to 2,500 minutes, while in the current campaign he has been virtually a regular starter and has already had the chance to make his debut in the Champions League.

His progress also opened the doors to the German national team. Before reaching the senior squad, he was a world and European champion with Germany’s Under-17 side.

A center-back who stands out for carrying the ball forward

Jeltsch is a right-footed defender who usually plays on the right side of central defense. At 1.88 meters tall, he has a strong physical presence, although one of his main traits appears when he has the ball at his feet.

The German stands out especially for his ability to carry the ball out from defense, keeping his head up and advancing with the ball under control. He also has the range to play long passes, although his ball-carrying is one of the aspects that draws the most attention.

In youth categories, he also showed a knack for getting into the box and scoring goals, although he is still looking to bring that ability into professional football.

His value is soaring

Jeltsch’s growth is also reflected in his market valuation. At present, Transfermarkt values him at around €35 million, a figure that contrasts with the roughly five million he was valued at just a year and a half ago.

His contract and Stuttgart’s eventual stance would be key factors in determining how much it would cost to prise him away from Germany.

For now, Real Madrid is keeping an eye on his development without any immediate need to sign him. The club already has a revamped defense, but it continues to look to the future, and Jeltsch appears as one of the names still being monitored at the Bernabéu.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.