Dani Carvajal reaches verbal agreement with Getafe after completing medical

Agreement and medical examination

Getafe CF has reached a verbal agreement to sign 34-year-old Spanish right-back Dani Carvajal on a free transfer following the conclusion of his contract with Real Madrid. The defender completed his formal medical examinations on 6 October 2026, clearing a key step following his recovery from a knee injury sustained during a league fixture against Villarreal two years earlier. Getafe president Ángel Torres announced the developments outside club offices on Tuesday, noting that the player was scheduled to visit club facilities in the late afternoon. Getafe manager José Bordalás sought reinforcements on the right flank after squad turnover and initiated direct discussions with the veteran defender.

Torres explained the manager's tactical request when speaking to broadcaster DAZN.

The coach was asking me for a winger and we did not find one, so let us see if a wing-back suits him.

Squad needs and local ties

The potential move allows Carvajal to remain based in the Madrid metropolitan area, where his wife and children reside. Born in Leganés, an urban area bordering Getafe in the south of Madrid, Carvajal prioritised family stability over lucrative contract options from abroad. Since playing his final match for Real Madrid on 23 May 2026, the defender spent over four months training individually and alongside his brother-in-law Joselu. Joining Getafe offers Carvajal top-flight domestic action as well as continental fixtures in the UEFA Conference League. Bordalás identified the free-agent market as a necessary avenue to rebuild squad depth following the departures of midfielders Luis Milla and Mauro Arambarri.

Financial control requirements

The completion of the transfer depends on formal clearance from La Liga regarding its economic control and financial fair play regulations. Carvajal earned a substantial salary during his tenure at Real Madrid, requiring a considerable wage reduction to fit within the payroll structure at the Coliseum. League regulations scrutinise notable salary decreases to ensure accounting compliance and prevent financial circumvention. Getafe's spending limit rose to 57 million euros in the latest financial report published by La Liga, representing a 22 million euro increase compared to January 2026. Torres confirmed that registration will proceed once the economic terms receive definitive approval from league authorities.

It only remains for La Liga and me to reach an agreement, because he has already passed the medical examination and everything.

Real Madrid career and summer interest

Prior to advancing talks with Getafe, Carvajal evaluated contract options from clubs in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Major League Soccer. Negotiations also occurred between his agent Ginés Carvajal and AC Milan, where his former Madrid teammate Luka Modrić plays. Carvajal ended a 23-year career with Real Madrid that began in the youth academy, where he laid the ceremonial first foundation stone at the Valdebebas training complex. Over 13 senior seasons, interrupted only by a 36-match spell at Bayer Leverkusen, he made 451 first-team appearances, recording 14 goals, 62 assists, and 27 official trophies. His honours list with Madrid includes six UEFA Champions League titles, six FIFA Club World Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, four La Liga titles, four Spanish Super Cups, and two Copa del Rey trophies.