Four in, many out – Rating Real Madrid’s 2025 summer transfer window | OneFootball

Real Madrid were one of the busiest clubs in the recent transfer window, not in terms of the number of signings but in terms of the value of the operations involved.

After a season where they disappointed, Florentino Perez did not hold back in pooling all his resources to strengthen departments where they lacked. Real Madrid, thus, enter the new season stronger than they have ever been in recent times.

Four new arrivals and a few departures later, the men in white now have a squad that is well-rounded and has backups in almost all positions on the field.

More importantly, it hands Xabi Alonso a grand stage and foundation to build his project on and it will be interesting to see how the transfer decisions of this summer pan out in the long run.

Arrivals

Dean Huijsen

Real Madrid’s biggest signing of the summer by some distance, Dean Huijsen has slotted into the Merengues’ plans like he was always meant to.

In a matter of months, he has made himself the leader of their defence and the fact that he has done it at 20 years of age proves the quality he possesses. The Spaniard may well have cost close to €60 million, but early signs show that he is worth every penny and more.

While Huijsen has proven to be a pillar in defence for Real Madrid, his ball-playing abilities perfectly slot into Xabi Alonso’s plans and help fill the team’s void of a deep playmaking presence. The team, thus, may well have killed two birds with one stone.

Transfer rating: 9

Trent Alexander-Arnold

The right-back’s situation at the club after his summer arrival is probably the most ambiguous of the four new signings, and surprisingly so because he was the biggest name of the four new players who arrived.

The player has indeed started games rather regularly under Xabi Alonso, but there continues to be a sense that he is struggling to fit in, especially with the team missing a target man to get on the end of his crosses.

The return of Dani Carvajal has further complicated his situation with Trent now facing a serious threat to a starting spot. While the deal may well pay off in the long run, the initial signs are not as positive as Real Madrid would have hoped.

Transfer rating: 7

Franco Mastantuono

Already making a mark. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The teenage star has entered Real Madrid amid serious hype and there is reason to believe he could be the team’s new threat down the right wing for a long time to come.

Mastantuono was the last Real Madrid player to join training but wasted no time in making his debut, a testament to the quality he is showing in training.

Consistency must indeed develop, but he will be prepared to take more risks and show off his talent as his confidence grows in the coming weeks. At just 18 years of age, he has left a strong initial impression and it will be interesting to see how he grows in the coming months.

Transfer rating: 8

Alvaro Carreras

Real Madrid’s new left-back has gone on to become a bona fide starter for Xabi Alonso and the level he has shown in just three official games is extremely promising.

Carreras’ work rate is off the charts over the 90 minutes and he has proven to be as potent an attacking threat as a defensive linchpin. The club spent big on him, but so far, it seems to be a transaction worth making him the second most expensive defender in Real Madrid’s history.

Transfer rating: 8.5

Departures

Luka Modric

Perhaps the most gutting departure of them all for Real Madrid this summer was that of Luka Modric – the Croatian talisman and club legend who will go down in history as one of the players who defined an era for Los Blancos.

His seemingly endless longevity appeared to be enough to secure him another renewal at the club this summer, but with Xabi Alonso and the board agreeing that it is time to encourage a new generation to bud, the player was forced to part ways.

Modric bid goodbye to Real Madrid. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

The team will never be the same without Modric on the field as a game-changing presence but it was a much-needed farewell for Los Blancos as they pass the baton to younger stars.

Transfer rating: 7

Lucas Vazquez

Another player whose contract ran out this summer after he was not renewed was Lucas Vázquez, and the player left the club after the FIFA Club World Cup as a free agent to start a new chapter in his career.

With the arrival of Trent and the return of Carvajal, Vazquez’s role at the club would have been redundant, and letting go of him for free was indeed the best decision for all parties involved.

Transfer rating: 8

Jesus Vallejo

The final player from the first team who left the club in the summer was Jesus Vallejo who quietly saw his contract run out and called it time on his Real Madrid stint.

Given that the player was virtually nonexistent in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans in recent years, his departure does not imply a whole lot to the club but does indeed do its part in terms of removing his wages.

Transfer rating: 8

Youth player exits

In addition to the high-profile moves of the first team, Real Madrid oversaw several player sales over the summer that helped with the club’s finances by bringing in massive revenue. Here are the key departures and the revenues they helped generate.

Alvaro Rodriguez left for Elche. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Alvaro Rodriguez packed his bags to join Elche in the summer for €2 million for 50% of his rights. Victor Munoz left Real Madrid for a fee of €6 million to join Osasuna on a permanent transfer.

Rafel Obrador left for Benfica in a deal that saw Los Blancos rake in a fee of €5 million as the initial payment. VfB Stuttgart pounced on Chema Andres and gave him a spot in the top tier of German football in a deal worth close to €3 million.

Yusi, the 19-year-old Moroccan talent left to join Deportivo Alaves with the Merengues again receiving a fee of close to €3 million in the process. Jacobo Ramon now plays for Como who coughed up €2.5 million for his services.

Marvel moved to Leganes for a nominal fee. In addition, the club also bid adieu to some big names from the academy in Mario Martin, Lorenzo Aguado, Baba Diocou and David Ruiz amongst others, all of whose transactions did not involve transfer fees.

Considering that Real Madrid retain percentages and buyback clauses for these players, and managed to generate significant revenue, it can be considered good business.

Conclusion

Real Madrid came out all guns blazing at the start of the summer window, securing deals for Trent, Huijsen, and Mastantuono, before landing Carreras as well, in the process improving in positions seen as a concern.

The departure of Modric does leave a hole, and while Real Madrid might have benefitted from signing another midfielder, the overall transfer business this summer can be seen as a huge positive.

It sets things up nicely for Xabi Alonso to bring major trophies back to the Santiago Bernabeu after a rather lean season last time out.