Super Eagles stars Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey will have a new teammate at Fulham after the Premier League club completed the signing of highly rated Spanish striker Gonzalo Garcia from Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old forward sealed a long-term move to Craven Cottage on Monday, signing a contract until 2031, with Fulham retaining the option of extending the deal by a further year.
Garcia arrives following the most productive campaign of his young career, scoring eight goals for Real Madrid, including six in La Liga. His standout performances included a hat-trick against Real Betis in January, underlining his growing reputation as one of Spain’s brightest attacking talents.
Gonzalo Garcia arrives at Fulham after winning the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Intercontinental Cup and Spanish Super Cup during his time with Real Madrid. Photocredit: Fulham/X
Spanish reports estimate the transfer fee at around €40 million, while Real Madrid are understood to have negotiated a 30 per cent sell-on clause as part of the agreement.
The move also reunites Garcia with Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who previously coached the striker during his time in Real Madrid’s academy setup before taking charge of the Premier League side earlier this summer.
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Garcia was not the only Spanish youngster to swap Madrid for west London. Attacking midfielder Cesar Palacios also joined Fulham after making his breakthrough into the Real first team under Arbeloa.
Garcia’s arrival provides another attacking option as Fulham continue reshaping their squad ahead of the new Premier League season. The Nigerian duo remain key figures in the first team setup, with the club hoping the addition of the prolific young striker will strengthen their push for a higher league finish.
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Real Madrid, meanwhile, continue their squad rebuild after appointing José Mourinho as head coach following the departure of Arbeloa. The Spanish giants are restructuring their squad after finishing a second successive season without winning a major trophy.
