Fulham have completed the signings of Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid, with both players agreeing five-year contracts at Craven Cottage.
Garcia, 22, arrives for a reported fee of about £34m and will be reunited with Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa. The pair previously worked together at the Bernabeu, where Garcia established himself as a regular member of Real Madrid’s first-team squad.
The forward made 39 appearances for the Spanish giants last season, scoring eight goals across all competitions. He also earned his first Spain cap in June, underlining the progress he has made during his time in Madrid.
“I’m very grateful, very happy to be here,” Garcia said.
“I have to thank the board and Arbeloa for the trust they’ve put in me, and I’m very, very excited to start.”
Garcia was also joint-top scorer at the Club World Cup last summer and is regarded as one of the leading young forwards to have come through Real Madrid. His move to Fulham brings him back together with Arbeloa, who will now oversee his development in the Premier League.
Palacios will join Garcia in west London after also leaving Real Madrid in a permanent move. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has signed a deal running until the summer of 2031.
Fulham have the option to extend the contracts of both Garcia and Palacios by a further 12 months.
Palacios made five senior appearances for Real Madrid, coming on as a substitute in each of those matches. He has also represented Spain at under-20 level.
The pair will now begin the next stage of their careers at Fulham, with Garcia bringing first-team and international experience and Palacios arriving having made his senior breakthrough at Real Madrid. Both players have committed their futures to the club on long-term agreements, while their reunion with Arbeloa provides a direct link to their time in the Spanish capital.
For Fulham, the deals add two young players from Real Madrid to their squad. Garcia’s goalscoring record last season, his involvement at international level and his performances at the Club World Cup were key parts of the profile he brings to Craven Cottage. Palacios, meanwhile, offers an attacking midfield option after making five appearances for Real Madrid’s senior side.
The signings also mean Garcia and Palacios will continue working together after being team-mates at Real Madrid. Their contracts, which can potentially run for an additional year beyond their initial terms, represent long-term commitments from Fulham to both players.
