From Özil to Makelele: 15 Real Madrid stars to join Premier League clubs
August 5, 2026 8:00 am
Fulham’s summer signings of two players from Real Madrid have revived a long-standing transfer route between the Spanish giants and the Premier League, with several high-profile players making the switch over the past three decades.
From Premier League title winners to players whose English careers fell short of expectations, the moves have produced some of the competition’s most memorable success stories, a 13 man list on the EPL website on Tuesday disclosed this.
Ahead of the 2026/27 football season in the EPL, Fulham have strengthened their squad by signing two players from Real Madrid—22-year-old striker Gonzalo García and 21-year-old attacking midfielder César Palacios.
According to Reuters, García joined on a reported £34 million deal after progressing through Real Madrid’s academy and helping the club win the UEFA Champions League and LaLiga, while Palacios arrived for a reported £8.5 million following his rise through the Spanish club’s youth ranks.
The pair will now reunite with former Real Madrid academy coach and current Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa at Craven Cottage.
Meanwhile, with reports continuing to link Vinícius Júnior with a move to Arsenal, the Brazil international could become the 16th player to join a Premier League club directly from Real Madrid if the transfer is completed, PUNCH Online reports.
Here are some of the biggest names to leave Real Madrid for the Premier League:
1.Mesut Özil – Arsenal (2013)
Arsenal signed the German playmaker in what was then a club-record deal.
Özil became one of the Premier League’s leading creators during his eight years in north London, helping the Gunners win three FA Cups under Arsène Wenger.
2.Claude Makelele – Chelsea (2003)
Makelele transformed Chelsea’s midfield after arriving from Real Madrid.
The Frenchman became the foundation of José Mourinho’s side, helping the Blues win two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup while redefining the defensive midfield role.
3.Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal (2021)
After struggling to establish himself at Real Madrid, the Norwegian joined Arsenal on loan before completing a permanent move.
He later captained the club to its first Premier League title in decades and became one of the division’s standout midfielders.
4.Ángel Di María – Manchester United (2014)
Manchester United paid a then-British record transfer fee for the Argentine winger, but his spell at Old Trafford lasted just one season.
Despite moments of quality, Di María failed to settle before joining Paris Saint-Germain.
5.James Rodríguez – Everton (2020)
The Colombian midfielder reunited with Carlo Ancelotti at Everton after leaving Real Madrid.
Although he brought international pedigree and star quality to Goodison Park, his stay proved inconsistent before he departed for Qatar.
6. Raphael Varane – Manchester United (2021)
The World Cup-winning defender arrived as one of United’s marquee signings.
Although injuries affected his time at Old Trafford, Varane helped the club lift the FA Cup and League Cup.
7. Casemiro – Manchester United (2022)
The Brazilian midfielder joined United after a trophy-laden spell in Spain.
He became a key figure in the club’s FA Cup and League Cup triumphs and remained a fan favourite during his four seasons.
8. Michael Owen – Newcastle United (2005)
After one season at Real Madrid, Owen returned to England with Newcastle in a club-record transfer.
Injuries disrupted his time at St James’ Park, and he experienced relegation before later winning the Premier League with Manchester United.
9. Rafael van der Vaart – Tottenham Hotspur (2010)
Tottenham secured the Dutch midfielder in a deadline-day move.
Van der Vaart quickly became a fan favourite, finishing as Spurs’ top Premier League scorer in his debut season with 13 goals.
10.Mateo Kovačić – Chelsea (2019)
Kovačić initially joined Chelsea on loan before signing permanently. He won the UEFA Champions League with the Blues before moving to Manchester City, where he added Premier League and FA Cup winners’ medals.
11. Iván Campo – Bolton Wanderers (2003)
Sam Allardyce persuaded the former Real Madrid player to join Bolton, where Campo spent six Premier League seasons and earned a reputation as a versatile and intelligent midfielder.
12.Davor Šuker – Arsenal (1999)
The 1998 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner joined Arsenal with high expectations but struggled to establish himself as a regular before moving to West Ham United after one season.
13. Fernando Morientes – Liverpool (2005)
A three-time UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Morientes helped Liverpool win the FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup, although he did not fully replicate his Spanish form during his 18-month stay.
Fulham’s latest additions from Real Madrid add another chapter to a transfer pathway that has brought some of world football’s biggest names to England, with outcomes ranging from legendary success to unfulfilled promise.
Fulham’s latest signings:
Fulham signed two young Real Madrid players:
14. Gonzalo García – a 22-year-old Spanish striker who joined on a five-year contract.
García came through Real Madrid’s academy, scored 13 goals in 51 senior appearances, and won the UEFA Champions League and LaLiga with the club. Fulham reportedly paid around £34 million for him.
15. César Palacios – a 21-year-old Spanish attacking midfielder who also signed a five-year deal.
Palacios made several senior appearances for Real Madrid after progressing through the club’s youth ranks. His transfer was reportedly worth about £8.5 million.
The duo reunite at Craven Cottage with new Fulham head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who previously coached both players in Real Madrid’s academy and reserve setup.
Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.
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