Official: Real Madrid announce their third summer signing

Spanish giants Real Madrid have added a third new face to their squad in their bid to challenge for more domestic and European honors next season.

Real Madrid have added a new star to their lineup in Joselu. The Espanyol forward has joined the team on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent, the club announced on Monday.

The 33-year-old is a proven goal scorer, having netted 16 LaLiga goals for Espanyol last season, which is an impressive achievement. Only Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema scored more in the league. He was also a key player for Spain’s UEFA Nations League squad, scoring the winner against Italy in their 2-1 semi-final victory after coming on as an 84th-minute substitute.

Following news of Joselu’s arrival, Real Madrid have now signed three players this summer. The other new faces are Jude Bellingham and Fran Garcia. The former joined Borussia Dortmund last week for a €103 million fee, while the latter will re-join the club in a €5 million deal from Rayo Vallecano.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been looking to bolster their attacking options after Benzema and Mariano Diaz’s departures. Joselu, whose full name is Jose Luis Mato Sanmartin, has an impressive resume. The Spaniard previously signed for Madrid from Celta Vigo in 2009. He scored a career-high 26 goals for reserve team Real Madrid Castilla in 2011/12. He then moved to Hoffenheim in Germany before spells at Eintracht Frankfurt, Hannover 96, Stoke City, Deportivo La Coruna, and Newcastle United.

Joselu re-found his goalscoring form at Alaves, scoring an impressive 36 LaLiga goals over three seasons between 2019 and 2022. He then moved to Espanyol in July last year and found the best form of his career, earning a first Spain call-up at the age of 32 in March, during which he scored twice in three minutes in a 3-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Norway.