LALIGA
Who is Eduardo Camavinga? Profile and stats on the new Real Madrid player
Real Madrid have brought in midfielder Eduardo Camavinga on a six-year contract from French side Stade Rennes, the club announced earlier this week.
Real Madrid have announced the signing of midfielder Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes.
The 18-year-old France international agreed a six-year contract with Los Blancos in a deal that could cost up to €45million, according to reports.
It is the first time Madrid have spent money on a transfer fee since 2019, when they signed Eden Hazard from Chelsea for €100m.
Camavinga had been linked with a host of major European clubs, including Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, but Madrid elected to make a late push to sign him before the transfer deadline after it became clear that landing Kylian Mbappe from PSG would be impractical.
The teenager, who made 71 Ligue appearances for Rennes and 88 in total, is Madrid's second signing of this window following the free transfer of David Alaba from Bayern Munich.
At 18 years and nine months old, he is the youngest outfield player to feature in that many games in France's top flight since Basile Boli in 1985.
Les Bleus debut
Born in a refugee camp in Angola to Congolese parents, Camavinga's family emigrated to France. He came through the ranks of local club Stade Rennes -- making his first team debut in Ligue 1 aged 16 years, four months and 27 days.
In 2020 Camavinga became the youngest player to represent France since 1917 at 17 years, nine months and 29 days old, the youngest player to do so since Maurice Gastiger against Luxembourg 107 years ago.
Only Gastiger (17 years and five months) scored for Les Bleus at a younger age than Camavinga, who was 17 years and 11 months old when he netted against Switzerland last October.
In 2019-20, Camavinga's breakthrough season at Rennes, he attempted 105 tackles in top-flight football. Among midfielders in Europe's top five leagues, only Declan Rice (116) and Wilfred Ndidi (129) attempted more.
Camavinga will provide competition in midfield for Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Federico Valverde at Madrid.