Real Madrid have decided to exercise their option to sign Joselu on a permanent transfer from Espanyol.
The 34-year-old striker arrived at Madrid last summer on loan for an initial fee of €500,000 ($548.22, £427,649), which included the option to make the deal permanent for around €1.5million at the end of the season.
Madrid took advantage of a clause in Joselu’s Espanyol’s contract that was activated following their relegation from La Liga in 2022-23 and they have until June 30 to activate their purchase option.
Madrid are waiting to take formally complete the transfer because Espanyol are fighting for promotion to the top flight of Spanish football and want to be as respectful as possible to a club with whom they share a strong relationship.
Espanyol will play the semi-final of their Segunda promotion play-off this week, but Madrid have the final say on the striker’s future and their decision is to keep the Spain international.
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Joselu scored 17 goals and contributed three assists this season, making 18 starts across all competitions, and he is highly valued at Madrid for his professionalism.
His season will be remembered for the decisive brace in a late comeback win over Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final in the Spanish capital.
Joselu has been included in Spain’s preliminary 30-man squad for this summer’s European Championship, and he has scored five international goals in 10 caps.
Joselu played for Real’s ‘B’ team Castilla from 2009-2012 and made two appearances for the senior team during his first stint in the Spanish capital, scoring twice.
He scored 16 goals in 33 La Liga appearances for Espanyol in the 2022-23 season, despite his team being relegated, before his return to Madrid in 2023.
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(Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
