Real Madrid have announced the departure of Gonzalo Garcia, with the forward joining Fulham in the Premier League after 11 seasons with the Spanish club.
The move was confirmed by Real Madrid on Monday after an agreement was reached between the two clubs. Financial details were not included in the club’s announcement, although transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that Fulham will pay a fixed fee of 40m euros, with a further 2m euros available in incentives.
Real Madrid will also retain a 30% sell-on clause for Garcia, according to Romano. The Spanish club are understood to have negotiated a matching right, meaning they would be able to match any future offer made for the player should there be an opportunity to bring him back to Santiago Bernabeu.
Garcia joined Real Madrid in 2014, aged 10, and spent the following 11 seasons within the club’s system before making his way into the first-team set-up.
In a statement published on their official website, Real Madrid said: “Gonzalo Garcia arrived at Real Madrid in 2014, when he was only 10 years old, and became part of the club for 11 seasons.”
The club added: “During the time he wore the first-team shirt, Gonzalo Garcia won the Club World Cup once and the Spanish league title once.”
Garcia’s time with the senior side therefore included two major honours, as well as his long development through Real Madrid’s youth structure. The club said he had consistently represented its values and praised his commitment and dedication throughout his years in Madrid.
Real Madrid said: “Gonzalo Garcia always embodied the values of Real Madrid, which wishes to thank the player for his commitment and dedication throughout all the years he spent at the club.”
The club concluded its message by making clear that Garcia would continue to have a connection with Real Madrid, despite the transfer to Fulham.
It said: “Real Madrid will always be his home, wishing him and his family all the best in this new stage of his life.”
The agreement now takes Garcia into the Premier League, where he will continue his career with Fulham. His move brings to an end an association with Real Madrid that began during childhood and included 11 seasons at the club, as well as success with the first team in the Club World Cup and the Spanish league.
