Every completed Real Madrid transfer in summer 2025: Signings, exits, loans

Real Madrid are now in the Xabi Alonso era and they have already been making some eye-catching changes to the squad he inherited from Carlo Ancelotti.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Alonso returned to the club this summer as their new head coach following a successful stint with Bayer Leverkusen and after Ancelotti vacated his position to take the Brazil national team job. It’s the dawn of a new era for Los Blancos and their transfer activity is already showing it.

Historically one of the most likely teams to pull off a big transfer coup – whether it’s a record-breaking deal or a savvy free signing – Real Madrid are always ones to watch when the transfer window is open.

Here is a roundup of every signing they have made this summer and every player leaving.

Real Madrid signings

Dean Huijsen

• From: Bournemouth
• Fee: £50m
• Position: Centre-back
• Age: 20

Fresh from his Spain international debut in March, Huijsen has returned to the country he grew up in – four years after he left Malaga’s academy for Juventus.

Huijsen’s form in what turned out to be his only season with Bournemouth in the 2024-25 Premier League led to widespread interest in his signature, including from elsewhere in England.

But Madrid won the race to sign the centre-back by activating his £50m (€59.5m/$66m) release clause and handed him a contract until 2030.

The move went through in time for Huijsen to be included in Madrid’s squad for the Club World Cup; he made his debut in their group-stage opener against Al Hilal.

Madrid’s defence was in need of reinforcements after some key absences there last season. As a long-term investment, Huijsen should have some decent opportunities to make a name for himself at the Bernabeu.

Comunicado Oficial: Huijsen.#RealMadrid | #WelcomeHuijsen

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 17, 2025

Trent Alexander-Arnold

• From: Liverpool
• Fee: £8.4m
• Position: Right-back
• Age: 26

It became one of the worst-kept secrets in football that Madrid were working on signing Alexander-Arnold as he ran down his deal at Liverpool.

A long-term target for Los Blancos, Alexander-Arnold was their top choice for the right-back position and they managed to persuade him not to renew his contract with his boyhood club.

Liverpool feared losing Alexander-Arnold on a free, but Madrid agreed to pay €10m in order to push through his arrival before the Club World Cup. Like Huijsen, his debut was against Al Hilal.

Like the centre-back position, Madrid’s right-back options were limited because of injury issues last season. With Alexander-Arnold, they believe they have rectified their shortfalls there by signing one of the best in the world.

Alexander-Arnold signed a six-year contract in the Spanish capital, which will take him into his thirties there.

While a recovered Dani Carvajal would be a strong right-back option too, Alexander-Arnold is expected to become Madrid’s regular starter in his position.

READ MORE ⏩ Trent Alexander-Arnold: The last 10 players Real Madrid convinced to leave their local team

Franco Mastantuono

• From: River Plate
• Fee: £38.5m
• Position: Attacking midfielder
• Age: 17

Mastantuono may still be a teenager, but he has more than 60 appearances to his name for River Plate’s first team and earned his senior international debut for Argentina in June.

The attacking midfielder is viewed as one of the most coveted talents in South America at the moment and has been on show at the Club World Cup for River Plate ahead of the completion of his move to Madrid.

Only when Mastantuono turns 18 on August 14 will he officially become a Madrid player, but his upcoming move has been confirmed after they activated the release clause in his contract.

Mastantuono will be under contract at the Bernabeu for six years, although he will have to fight for his place in a star-studded squad in the early phases of his Madrid career.

The €45m fee they have spent on him, though, suggests their confidence he can be a hit in the senior squad.

Rachad Fettal

• From: Almeria
• Fee: £0.8m
  
• Position: Striker
• Age: 20

Fettal scored once from 19 appearances for second-tier outfit Almeria last season and will initially link up with Real Madrid’s Castilla side.

Madrid have paid an initial €900,000, which is approximately £778,000, and given the striker a three-year contract.

Alvaro Carreras

• From: Benfica
• Fee: £43.4m
• Position: Left-back
• Age: 22

Carreras has returned to Madrid after leaving their academy for Manchester United’s youth setup in September 2020. He has agreed a six-year contract with Los Blancos.

The left-back is likely to become the regular starter in his position for Alonso’s side.

“I want to thank Real Madrid for the trust they have placed in me to make it possible for me to return to what was my home for three years,” he said at his presentation. “I left as a boy, and I’m coming back as a man. I’m really looking forward to wearing this shirt.

“I’m proud to defend this crest for everything it represents. It is the best club in the world. I promise to give my all to the team, to keep growing and winning titles together.”

Real Madrid exits

Luka Modric

• To: AC Milan
• Fee: Free
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 39

After a glorious 13-year spell, Modric has reached the end of his illustrious stint in Madrid.

He was originally regarded as a flop after struggling with the transition from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, but Modric became one of the best midfielders on the planet in time and won the 2018 Ballon d’Or.

Although approaching the age of 40, he still managed to make more than 50 appearances for Madrid in what has turned out to be his final campaign with the club.

Modric is the most decorated player in Madrid’s history with a 28-trophy haul.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said: “Luka Modric will forever remain in the hearts of all madridistas as a unique an exemplary footballer who has always embodied the values of Real Madrid. His football has captured the imagination of madridismo and fans all over the world. His legacy will live on forever.”

Modric wasn’t ready to retire just yet and has signed a one-year contract with AC Milan for his first taste of Serie A.

Jesus Vallejo

• To: Albacete
• Fee: Free
• Position: Centre-back
• Age: 28

10 years since he was bought by Madrid from Zaragoza, but with only 35 appearances for the club to his name, Vallejo has been released at the end of his contract.

Vallejo had loan spells with Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolves and Granada during his Madrid career and wasn’t trusted to play much after his return, despite the injury issues within his department of the squad.

He played in all three of Madrid’s last LaLiga games of the season, but they were his first outings since September.

Madrid cited his “professionalism, commitment, and hard work” in their statement thanking Vallejo after his exit was decided.

The 28-year-old has signed a two-year contract with Spanish second-tier side Albacete.

Lucas Vazquez

• To: TBC (Released)
• Fee: Free
• Position: Right-back
• Age: 34

A product of the Madrid system and a member of the first-team squad for 10 years, Vazquez’s departure was confirmed a week after elimination from the Club World Cup.

“You earn the admiration, affection, and respect of all Real Madrid fans. It’s an honour and a source of pride to have had a player like you,” said Perez at a farewell ceremony for the versatile wide player.

Vazquez wore the Madrid shirt more than 400 times, playing his part in 23 trophy wins.

Where he goes next is yet to be determined, but chances would have been reduced for him at Madrid after the addition of Alexander-Arnold at right-back.