Spain's talented youngsters are in great demand this summer, with even the mighty Real Madrid deciding to bring in young local players rather than sign tried and tested big names. They now have five of the European championship winning under 21 squad, Illarramendi the latest to sign on a big money deal from Real Sociedad. Morata, Jesé and Nacho are being promoted to the first team, and elsewhere Oriol Romeu has signed for Valencia, Joel has gone to Roberto Martínez's Everton, Suso to Almería and Campaña to Crystal Palace. Curiously though Barcelona are doing just the opposite, Spain's MVP under 21 captain Thiago being allowed to join Guardiola at Bayern Munich (albeit that they will collect 25 big ones for their pains), Thiago's kid brother Rafinha is moving on loan to Luis Enrique's Celta, Bojan is going to spend a year at Frank De Boer's Ajax, and the super-talented Deulofeu is getting the number 10 shirt this season, also at "Bob"'s Everton. Meanwhile Barça are desperately trying to sign a big name Brazilian defender to complement Neymar, whether he be called Thiago Silva, Marquitos or Donaldo Pato. The World has turned upside-down! (15.07.13)
Player (Country) | Old club | New club | Position/Comments |
Suso | Liverpool (ENG) | Almería | FW Have signed Spanish under 20 international on loan for a year after 3 seasons playing at Liverpool. |
Rodri | Barcelona B / Zaragoza | Almería | FW Forward moves out on loan again after previous spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Zaragoza. |
Tébar | Girona | Almería | MF Just missed out on promotion in play-offs, but joins the team who beat the Catalans in the final. |
Víctor Ibáñez | Cartagena | Almería | GK Was best keeper in his regional group last year. Out of contract, and signed as cover for Esteban, although may start to B team. |
Raúl Fernández | Athletic Bilbao | Numancia | GK Number two keeper moves on loan to Numancia. Making room for youth international Kepa? |
Castillo | Athletic Bilbao | Las Palmas | DF Contract not renewed at San Mamés, so left back takes up offer to return to Canary Islands. |
Demichelis (ARG) | Málaga | Atlético Madrid | DF Out of contract, and turned down offer of return to River Plate to join Simeone at Atleti. |
José María Giménez (URU) | Danubio (URU) | Atlético Madrid | DF Actually signed young defender a couple of months back, but currently playing for his under 20 side in Turkey. Not sure if he will be loaned out? |
Cata Díaz (ARG) | Atlético Madrid | Boca Juniors (ARG) | DF Ex Getafe defender didn't play much in first season at Atleti, so has been allowed to return home to play for old club. |
Joel | Atlético / Wigan (ENG) | Everton (ENG) | GK Roberto Martínez bringing with him the keeper he had on loan at Wigan. Fee around 4-5 Mio? |
Silvio (POR) | Atlético / Deportivo | Benfica (POR) | DF No room for versatile full back at Calderón, so agrees a second lona move after year at Depor. |
Thiago | Barcelona | Bayern Munich (GER) | MF MVP in recent U21 Euros is moving on! Fee agreed of between 20 & 25 Mio, and will be joining Pep in Germany. |
Deulofeu | Barcelona B | Everton (ENG) | FW Talented youngster moves on loan to gain experience, and will be looked after by "Bob" Martínez at Everton. |
Juan Carlos / Agra (POR) | Sporting Braga (POR) | Betis | FW Loan deal for Spaniard extended by a year. Agra goes the other way on 2 year loan after year at Siena. |
Rafinha (BZL) | Barcelona B | Celta | MF Thiago's kid brother will move on loan for a year. Joins ex Barça B coach Luis Enrique at club where father Mazinho also played. |
Lombán | Barcelona B | Elche | DF Ex Valencia defender paid 50K to buy out his contract, and will be playing in top flight next season. |
Javier Flaño | Elche | Mirandés | DF Twin brother of Osasuna defender decides to move on again after helping Elche go up. |
Cristian Alvarez (ARG) | Espanyol | San Lorenzo Almagro (ARG) | GK Contract not renewed at Espanyol, so take up offer to join Juan Antonio Pizzi back home. |
Escudero | Schalke '04 (GER) | Getafe | DF Played on loan last season, and have made move permanent for fee of around 0.5 Mio. |
Douglas Santos (BZL) | CN Capibaribe (BZL) | Granada | DF Have signed Brazilian youth international right back. Promise for the future. |
Gai Assulín (ISR) | Racing Santander | Granada / Hércules | MF Have signed young winger on free transfer, but will be loaning him on to Hércules next season. |
Casado | Rayo Vallecano | Levante | DF Left back didn't get offer of renewal when contract expired, so accepts move to Valencia - pending medical check. |
Nery Castillo (MEX) | Pachuca (MEX) | Rayo Vallecano | FW Striker hoping to re-boot his European career at Rayo. Joins for one year, but no details of whether loan or transfer? |
Callejón | Real Madrid | Napoli (ITA) | FW Little chance of playing now that Isco has signerd, so accepts offer to join Rafa Benítez on 5 year deal. Fee around 10 Mio. |
Illarramendi | Real Sociedad | Real Madrid | MF Finally got their man! Madrid deposited 30 Mio buy-out clause (+ VAT) for U21 international, and signs 6 year deal at Bernabeu. |
Seferovic (SWI) | Fiorentina / Novara (ITA) | Real Sociedad | FW Haris joins on 4 year deal to strengthen attack after Ifrán suffered long term injury. Fee around 3 Mio. |
Bacca (COL) | Club Brugge (BEL) | Sevilla | FW Have already signed replacement for Negredo, assuming he goes? Paid 7 Mio, and signs 5 year deal. Also going for PSG's Gameiro? |
Campaña | Sevilla | Crystal Palace (ENG) | MF Under 20 international turns down offer of extended contact and agrees terms to join newly promoted Premier League side. |
Oriol Romeu | Chelsea (ENG) | Valencia | MF Mourinho allows under 21 international to return to Spain on loan, but no buy-out option agreed. |
Hiroshi Ibusuki (JPN) | Sevilla B | Valencia B | FW Japanese youth international striker moves from Nervion to Mestalla. |
Humberto Osorio (COL) | San Martín San Juan (ARG) | Valladolid | FW Striker announced to his local paper that he has signed for 3 years, although Valladolid deny deal completed. |
Giovani (MEX) | Mallorca | Villarreal | FW Got ahead of Valencia to sign ex Barça B and Spurs forward on 4 year deal. |
Pantic (SER) | Red Star Belgrade (SER) | Villarreal | DF Young centre back out of contract at Red Star and will join for next 3 years. |
Jonathan Pereira | Betis | Villarreal | FW Contract at Betis ended after one year loan, and agrees terms to stay at Villarreal for another 4 years. |
Mellberg (SWE) | Villarreal | Copenhagen (DEN) | DF Ex Racing & Aston Villa defender returning closer to home after helping Villarreal win promotion. |
Javi Venta | Villarreal | Brentford (ENG) | DF Experienced right back will be trying his luck in UK after club let him go. Signs one year deal. |
Gerard Moreno | Villarreal | Mallorca | FW Young striker goes opposite way to Gio and Pina. One year loan to gain experience. |
Valerón | Deportivo | Las Palmas | MF Ex Spanish international decides to finish his career back home after Depor relegated again. Sifns one year deal, with option of one more. |
Jesús Vázquez | Deportivo | Recreativo | MF One of eight signings at Recre. Returns to old side after two years at Riazor. |
Agus | Orduspor (TKY) | Mallorca | DF Another local boy returning from Turkey. Ex Castilla defender signs for 3 years. |
Paglialunga (ARG) | Catania (ITA) / Hércules | Zaragoza | MF Have agreed terms to sign midfielder on 3 year deal. Was on loan for 6 months at Hércules. |
David Cortés | Hércules | Zaragoza | DF Ex Mallorca and Getafe full back out of contract and takes up one year deal with Maños. |
Miguel Alvarez | L'Hospitalet | Alcorcón | MG Takes over from Pepe Bordalás after just failing to gain promotion with Catalans. |
Dani Nieto | Alcorcón | Barcelona B | FW Paid 300K for forward, of which 25% goes to ex- club Espanyol under old transfer agreement. |
Quiroga (ARG) | Lugo | Alavés | FW Have signed ex Las Palmas striker on one year contract to try and consolidate place in second division. |
Ion Vélez | Girona | Alavés | FW Ex Athletic striker has recovered from long injury, and will be joining newly promoted side. |
Strahman (ARG / ISR) | Leones Negros (MEX) | Córdoba | FW There's a strahman somewhere in the sky and he will be playing a season in Córdoba with option of two more. |
Janse (HOL) | NAC Breda (HOL) | Córdoba | DF Have signed Dutch full back on free transfer. Can play on either flank. One of 5 new signings. |
Ricardo Rodríguez | Saudi Arabia under 17 side | Girona | MG Much travelled coach (still only 39) returns to old club to take over from Rubi, who was poached by Barça. |
Héctor Font | Lugo | Hércules | MF Ex contemporary of Cazorla's in Villarreal and Spanish youth teams moves on again, signing 2 year contract at Hércules. |
Julio Velázquez | No club | Murcia | MG Ex Villarreal coach is last manager on board, although some doubt as to which division Murcia will be in. |
Fabinho (BZL) | Rio Ave (POR) / Castlla | Mónaco | DF Real Madrid decided not to take up purchase option on Brazilian right back, so agrees move to Mónaco. |