Real Madrid has agreed to pay up to £51.8 million to sign Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella after the World Cup.
The 27-year-old is presently competing for Spain in the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but all sides have agreed to a permanent transfer of £47.5 million plus £4.3 million in add-ons.
Since President Florentino Pérez was re-elected and José Mourinho was appointed manager, Real Madrid is believed to be interested in Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries, while France defender Ibrahima Konaté is expected to join after leaving Liverpool.
Cucurella, who signed for Chelsea for £63 million from Brighton in 2022, was said to want to return to Spain after graduating from Barcelona’s academy.
He’d been linked with Atletico Madrid and a return to Barcelona.
During the March international break, the Catalan also spoke out against Chelsea’s hierarchy following Enzo Maresca’s mid-season exit.
He was part of a core group of Spanish-speaking players who were dissatisfied with the scenario and struggled to perform under Maresca’s replacement, Liam Rosenior.
Cucurella has two years left on his contract, despite agreeing to improved terms without an extension last season, which is likely to have influenced Chelsea’s decision to accept the offer.
Despite Calum McFarlane’s temporary appointment as caretaker manager, Chelsea finished 10th and did not qualify for Europe.
Xabi Alonso, former manager of Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, has been appointed as the club’s permanent manager for 2026–27.
