Real Madrid has officially announced the signing of Chelsea and Spain defender Marc Cucurella on a contract that will run until 2032.
While the club has not disclosed the transfer fee, sources informed ESPN on Sunday that it is initially valued at €55 million ($69.3 million), with an additional €5 million ($5.8 million) possible in add-ons.
Cucurella marks Madrid’s first signing of the summer, although ESPN previously reported that they have also secured agreements for Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva.
The arrival of Cucurella follows the recent announcement of José Mourinho as the club’s new coach, succeeding Álvaro Arbeloa.
Mourinho played a significant role in the decision to bring Cucurella to Madrid, where he is currently with the Spanish national team in the United States, preparing for their World Cup opener against Cabo Verde on Monday in Atlanta.
Konaté and Silva are expected to join the team once their contracts with Liverpool and Manchester City expire at the end of the month, while Madrid intends to activate a €20 million ($23 million) clause to acquire Dumfries from Inter Milan.
Cucurella, 27, has expressed a desire to return to Spain for some time and has attracted attention from Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.
According to sources, Barça had explored the possibility of bringing back their former academy player months ago, but didn’t proceed further as they are focused on other key signings at the moment.
Atlético’s interest had progressed further, but Madrid acted swiftly to finalize the deal in the last few days following Mourinho’s return to the club.
Cucurella’s move to the Bernabéu is expected to intensify next season’s Clásicos due to his history with Barça.
Hailing from Catalonia, he developed at La Masia and had his first-team debut in a Copa del Rey match during the 2017-18 season.
After loan stints at Eibar and Getafe, he permanently joined Getafe before moving to Brighton & Hove Albion and finally Chelsea in 2022 for €65 million ($75.5 million).
He has been a mainstay at left-back for the Blues, making 163 appearances, contributing to their victories in the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup, but he has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress this season.
Earlier this year, he openly criticized the club’s decision to dismiss Enzo Maresca.
“If you asked me, I wouldn’t have done it,” Cucurella stated after the club’s Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain, voicing concerns about the club’s overall direction.
“You work and train every day only to realize, at the end, that when it matters, we’re still a bit off the top level,” he added. “I understand this is part of the club’s strategy, focusing on signing younger players for the future. But for those of us who want to win big, these moments can be discouraging.”
With his future now secure, Cucurella can shift his focus to the World Cup, where he is expected to be a key player as Luis de la Fuente’s first-choice left-back.
He played a pivotal role in the squad that won the 2024 Euros, famously dyeing his hair red in celebration after the final against England, and has promised to get a tattoo of coach De la Fuente if Spain clinches the World Cup this summer.