Who is Carlos Espí? Real Madrid’s surprise $27 million signing explained

On Thursday, Real Madrid completed the surprise signing of Levante striker Carlos Espí in a $27 million deal that came together at breakneck speed.

Soon after Madrid informed Levante that it was willing to pay the 21-year-old’s release clause, as revealed by AS, the Valencia-based club made the transfer official.

Espí had been in talks with several Premier League clubs but called off negotiations once he learned of Real Madrid’s interest, which was triggered by Gonzalo García’s departure to Fulham.

Real Madrid move quickly for young striker

The forward becomes the club’s fifth signing of the window after Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konaté, and could make his debut in Madrid’s friendly against Italian side Fiorentina in Austria on Saturday.

Having come through Levante’s youth system, Espí made his first-team debut for the Valencia-based club in Spain’s second division in February 2024.

Espí scored seven goals in 38 appearances in the second tier but really announced himself after Levante’s return to LaLiga in 2025-26. The attacker found the net 13 times in 27 games in all competitions, with his 11 league goals in 25 matches playing a crucial role in helping his team avoid relegation by the narrowest of margins.

What can Carlos Espí bring to Real Madrid?

Despite his young age, Espí stands out for his physical presence, towering above many defenders at 6-foot-4.

José Mourinho will view the youngster as a very different option to Kylian Mbappé, who will undoubtedly begin the season as the team’s first-choice central striker.

Given his height, Espí unsurprisingly proved his prowess in the air during his first LaLiga season, while also showing an ability to hold up the ball and battle against defenders.

He also displayed a willingness to press from the front, forcing defenders into mistakes that led to goals for Levante.

A late arrival on the international scene

Despite impressing during his breakthrough LaLiga season, Espí has received little international recognition so far.

The striker has made only two appearances for Spain’s U19 team, scoring twice, and has played another two games for the U20s.

He has yet to feature for the U21 side, although he remains eligible after turning 21 on July 24.

How do you pronounce Carlos Espí’s surname?

The tilde over the final “í” in Espí’s surname means the stress falls on the second syllable. It is pronounced es-PEE, with the emphasis on the “pee” sound.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.