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Fulham sign highly-rated Real Madrid striker Gonzalo García
04th August, 2026 12:39 AM
English Premier League side Fulham have confirmed the signing of highly-rated striker Gonzalo García from Real Madrid.
In a statement released on Monday, August 3, 2026, Fulham announced that the 22-year-old striker has joined for an undisclosed fee. García has signed a five-year deal, keeping him at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2031, with the club holding the option to extend his contract by a further 12 months.
Speaking after signing, García said: “I’m very grateful, very happy to be here. I have to thank the board and Arbeloa for the trust they’ve put in me, and I’m very, very excited to start.”
Gonzalo García’s early career
Born in Madrid, García has spent most of his life in the Spanish capital, having joined Real Madrid’s academy at the age of 10. He spent a single season with Mallorca’s youth setup before returning to Real in 2019.
It was back in Madrid that he began working with Álvaro Arbeloa, who helped take his game to the next level, most notably during the 2023/24 season, when García’s 35 goals helped the club’s Under-19 side complete a historic treble.
The following year, he stepped up to Castilla for another prolific campaign, registering 29 goal involvements (25 goals, 4 assists) in 36 appearances, numbers made even more impressive by the fact that 19 of those involvements came while playing on either wing.
FIFA Club World Cup break-out performance
That season also brought his first goal for Real Madrid’s senior side, a late winner against Leganés in the Copa del Rey, ahead of a summer that took him to new heights thanks to his performances at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Real Madrid may have exited the tournament at the semi-final stage, but that didn’t stop García from claiming the Golden Boot, scoring four goals and providing one assist in the United States. His form led then-coach Xabi Alonso to draw comparisons with club legend Raúl.
Now firmly established in the first-team picture at the Bernabéu, García scored eight goals and added three assists in 39 appearances for the Spanish giants last season, with the latter half of the campaign played under Arbeloa.
The undoubted highlight of his season came in a 5-1 victory over Real Betis, where he scored a perfect hat-trick — a header, a chest-and-volley finish, and a deft flick showcasing the full range of his finishing ability.
His form pushed García into contention for Spain’s squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup. Although he narrowly missed out on the final selection, he was handed his senior international debut in one of the team’s warm-up fixtures.
Before that, García had scored six goals in seven appearances for Spain’s Under-21 side, wearing the number seven shirt — the same number he will now wear at Craven Cottage.
César Palacios also joins Fulham from Real Madrid
To add squad depth, Fulham also signed an exciting young playmaker César Palacios on a long-term deal from Real Madrid.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder agreed a contract until June 2031, with a Club option to extend by a year.
He will wear the number eight shirt.
