Marc Cucurella is set to leave Chelsea for Real Madrid in a deal worth up to £51.7million
Marc Cucurella will leave Chelsea(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea have struck a deal with Real Madrid for Marc Cucurella’s transfer in a package potentially worth £51.7million. An initial payment of £47.4m has been agreed alongside roughly £4.3m in additional clauses.
The paperwork is still being finalised, but the move is expected to be ratified within days, with the defender completing his switch following the World Cup. Chelsea weren’t actively seeking to offload the player but it’s believed Cucurella was receptive to the appropriate opportunity and was eager to leave Stamford Bridge.
The full-back had penned fresh terms with the Blues last summer and still had three years remaining on his contract. Atletico Madrid had also shown interest in the Spain star, but Real have pipped their domestic rivals to secure the 27-year-old’s services.
Cucurella has racked up 150 appearances since his 2022 arrival at Chelsea in a £63m move from Brighton and Hove Albion. The defender secured the Conference League and Club World Cup during his stint with the Blues and is currently featuring for Spain at the World Cup.
This development follows Cucurella’s recent admission that he felt “inspired” by Xabi Alonso’s appointment at Chelsea. When quizzed about his thoughts on the forthcoming project under the new boss, he replied: “Yes. I’ve spoken with him and he inspired a lot of confidence in me.
“I’ve also spoken with (Alejandro) Grimaldo and Borja (Iglesias), who have worked with him, and they spoke very highly of him. The project seems very interesting.”
However, Cucurella remained tight-lipped about past transfer rumours, telling Marca: “I’m not reading much and I’m not paying much attention. My agents already know they don’t have to tell me anything.
“I’m very happy where I am, and so is my family. Whatever happens, happens. Right now, I’m focused on the World Cup and enjoying this experience, which is my first and who knows if it will be my last.”
The defender will now miss the opportunity to work with Alonso as he moves to the manager’s most recent post before taking over at Stamford Bridge. The ex-Liverpool star spent less than a year in charge of Madrid, initially joining in May 2025.
Alonso departed the Spanish heavyweights by mutual agreement in January, a day after a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final.
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