Looks like the search for Karim Benzema’s replacement is over. Real Madrid has announced the signing of Spain striker Joselu from relegated team Espanyol. In a statement released by Madrid, the club stated, “Real Madrid and Espanyol have agreed on the loan of Joselu, who will be at the club for next season with an option to buy at the end of it.”
Joselu joined Real Madrid’s youth academy in 2010 and played for Castilla. In the two seasons with their reserve team, he was the top scorer in the team. In the second of them, the 2011-12, he proved to be instrumental in winning promotion to the Second Division as champion of the division. He scored 19 goals in the regular league and 7 more in the promotion play-offs.
Joselu had a superb season. The forward finished as La Liga’s third top goalscorer with 16 goals despite Espanyol’s relegation, earning him a call-up to the national team squad for the Nations League final four.
As per the statement, Joselu arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu on a season-long loan deal, with Real Madrid understood to have paid a loan fee of €500,000. As for the permanent purchase option, it is believed to be non-mandatory and worth around €1.5 million.
Real Madrid is seeing a lot of new faces in the squad. Recently, the team announced the signing of England international Jude Bellingham. The club has also announced the signing of talented left-back Fran Garcia from Rayo Vallecano and Brahim Diaz from AC Milan.
