Cucurella deal completed by Real Madrid

The transfer is fully agreed: a fee of around €50 million and a four-year contract. Mourinho personally called the player, who has already signed. The move could be announced after Spain’s World Cup opener.

JAVIER GANDUL

José Félix Díaz Sergio López

Madrid. Update: Jun 14th, 2026 22:26 EDT

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Marc Cucurella will play for Real Madrid.

The deal is complete and the player has already signed with the Spanish giants. The transfer has been finalized in barely two days and could be made official after Spain’s World Cup debut against Cape Verde on Monday.

As was the case with Bernardo Silva, the move accelerated after a phone call from José Mourinho to the left back. The conversation reportedly proved decisive, with Cucurella fully convinced by the project.

Cucurella wanted to leave Chelsea this summer. Despite the excitement generated by Xabi Alonso’s arrival, the club will not be playing in European competition next season, and the Spain international had long been looking for a return to his home country. He never hid that desire.

Barcelona and Atlético Madrid had both begun exploring a move, but Real Madrid entered the race and changed everything.

The transfer is done. Signed off. It was a specific request from Mourinho.

The negotiations moved at remarkable speed, progressing from initial talks to a completed agreement in little more than 48 hours. Mourinho played a key role throughout the process and was instrumental in convincing the player.

Cucurella’s future is now at the Santiago Bernabéu after signing his new contract with Real Madrid. The total value of the deal is expected to be around €50 million.

Major investment from Real Madrid

The operation has gone from zero to one hundred in little more than a day.

Cucurella had been on Real Madrid’s radar for months, alongside other candidates such as Joško Gvardiol, Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapié. But Mourinho’s preference tipped the scales decisively in his favor. Once that happened, Real Madrid moved aggressively.

Chelsea wanted around €50 million for the player, and that remains the figure at the center of the agreement, as first reported by Fabrizio Romano. No attempts to haggle. No effort to drive down the price. Pay the fee and complete the signing.

While some details remain to be finalized, with the final amount expected to come in close to £40 million, the fee is similar to what Real Madrid paid for Carreras last summer.

Barcelona or Atlético for Cucurella?

Whether Cucurella would go to Barcelona or Atlético appeared to have been the big question for weeks.

Whenever reporters asked about his future, Cucurella maintained a poker face.

“Pass,” he replied recently during an interview with El Partidazo.

One thing, however, was clear: he wanted to return to Spain. That was his priority and his biggest desire. Barcelona and Atlético had both begun making exploratory moves through conversations, contacts and informal approaches. For a time, it looked like a straight battle between the two clubs.

Then Real Madrid entered the race. And everything changed.

Three left backs on the market

The deal helps clarify Real Madrid’s situation at left back.

The club is listening to offers for Carreras, Mendy and Fran García. Real Madrid accepts that selling Mendy will be difficult given his injury situation, with the Frenchman not expected back until around November.

Carreras remains a Mourinho favorite, but he is not considered untouchable. If a strong offer arrives, the club would consider it, although it is difficult to imagine a bid that would justify moving him so soon after his arrival.

The player most likely to attract significant interest is Fran García. His future was already due to be addressed this summer, with his contract running until 2027. If Real Madrid was going to cash in, now would be the logical moment. The alternative would be a renewal, but that currently appears unlikely.

From La Masia to the Bernabéu

Cucurella turns 28 next month. He stands 5-foot-8 and is under contract with Chelsea through 2029. Any deal depended on reaching a financial agreement, and that hurdle appears to have been cleared.

He joined Barcelona’s academy from Espanyol shortly before turning 14 and spent four years there before beginning a journey that took him through Eibar, Getafe, Brighton and Chelsea, who paid €65 million to sign him.

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, Cucurella has made 163 appearances, won the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League, and established himself as a key figure for Spain.

Cucurella’s future is now at the Santiago Bernabéu after signing his new contract with Real Madrid. The total value of the deal is expected to be around €50 million.