Fulham are considering a move for Real Madrid midfielder Thiago Pitarch as they explore a third deal with the Spanish club and the player weighs up the prospect of reuniting with former coach Alvaro Arbeloa in the Premier League.
The London club have already reached an agreement to sign Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios, with Real Madrid set to receive €50m for 70% of the attacking players’ rights. Fulham are now continuing to monitor the talent emerging from the club’s Valdebebas academy, with Pitarch viewed as their next potential target, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
Pitarch, who has Moroccan heritage, is understood to be open to the move. He would welcome the chance to work under Arbeloa again and join former team-mates Garcia and Palacios in England.
However, negotiations remain at an early stage. Fulham are assessing several midfield options, including Southampton’s Shea Charles. Southampton are reportedly seeking about €30m for the Northern Ireland international, while other clubs are also interested in signing him.
Pitarch’s current injury could allow Fulham to take a measured approach to any discussions. The 20-year-old is recovering from a problem with his left knee that is expected to keep him out for several weeks.
Initial contact has already taken place between the player’s representatives and Fulham. The club recognise that Pitarch’s willingness to consider the transfer could help advance the deal, although no agreement has yet been reached.
Pitarch’s position at Real Madrid has become less certain since Arbeloa’s departure. The former defender was one of the midfielder’s strongest supporters during his development and played a major role in accelerating his progress through the club’s system.
Pitarch had been expected to work with Jose Mourinho during Real Madrid’s preparations for the new season. The current plan at the Spanish club, however, is for him to remain with Castilla. There is no clear route for him to be promoted permanently to the first team at present.
That uncertainty comes despite a strong finish to last season. Pitarch established himself as a regular during the final months of the campaign and moved ahead of players including Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos in the competition for places.
He made 16 appearances for Real Madrid in La Liga and the Champions League, starting several significant matches. Those included both knockout-stage games against Manchester City and the first leg against Bayern Munich.
A move to Fulham would therefore offer Pitarch the possibility of playing a more prominent role and testing himself in the Premier League, one of the biggest stages in world football. The player is believed to view that opportunity positively while his first-team prospects at Real Madrid remain unclear under Mourinho.
Arbeloa is widely regarded as the key figure behind Pitarch’s rapid rise. During his time in charge of the Real Madrid academy, he helped promote the midfielder to the senior set-up in a relatively short period, with Pitarch’s current market value estimated at about €20m.
Their association began on 18 January 2025, when Arbeloa gave Pitarch his debut for the Juvenil A side. On 14 September of the same year, the midfielder made his first official appearance for Castilla.
His most significant breakthrough came on 17 February 2026, when Arbeloa handed him his senior debut for Real Madrid. Pitarch consequently made three notable first appearances under the same coach in less than a year.
A transfer to Fulham could now provide the next chapter in that relationship, with Arbeloa once again potentially playing a central role in the midfielder’s career.
