Real Madrid present Carlos Espí following debut winner against Espanyol
Real Madrid have presented 21-year-old striker Carlos Espí on a contract through 2031, one day after his late goal sealed a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in the opening round of La Liga.
Debut goal in Barcelona
Carlos Espí marked his Real Madrid debut on Saturday with a late goal to secure a 1-2 victory over RCD Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium. The 21-year-old forward entered the pitch in the 80th minute as a substitute for Jude Bellingham during José Mourinho's return as manager of the club. In the 89th minute (recorded as the 90th minute in some reports), Espí capitalized on a loose ball inside the penalty area to score the winning goal for the opening match of the 2026-27 La Liga season. His height, reported between 194 and 196 centimetres, led teammates Thibaut Courtois and Jude Bellingham to nickname him "Joselu Jr" after the match.
Mourinho praised the young forward's direct impact and tactical contribution following the final whistle.
The goal, obviously, is the one that decides everything, but he also has a ball with his back to goal that he lays off to Mbappé. He is an optimal player.
Breakthrough at Levante and summer transfer
The move to Madrid capped a six-month rise for Espí, who began the 2025-26 campaign as a substitute at Levante after playing a reserve role in Segunda División during the 2024-25 season. A muscle injury sidelined him in December 2025, leaving him with limited playing time entering the new year. His breakthrough arrived on 27 February 2026, when he scored two goals in 30 minutes against Deportivo Alavés to cement a permanent place in the starting lineup. He went on to score between 10 and 11 league goals, helping Levante avoid relegation.
His performances attracted formal interest from English Premier League clubs Hull City and Brighton, with Hull nearing an agreement before Real Madrid entered the market. Real Madrid scout Juni Calafat proposed Espí after forward Gonzalo García departed for Fulham. Real Madrid completed the transfer for a fee of €25 million, signing the striker to a five-season contract running through 30 June 2031.
- Sidelined by a muscle injury after serving as a substitute for Levante
- Scores two goals against Alavés in 30 minutes to secure a starting spot
- Scores the late winning goal against Espanyol on his Real Madrid debut
- Presented as a Real Madrid player with the number 19 shirt at Ciudad Real Madrid
Official presentation and Valdebebas residency
On Sunday, 23 August 2026, Real Madrid held a private presentation ceremony for Espí in the board room at Ciudad Real Madrid. Club president Florentino Pérez and honorary president José Martínez 'Pirri' received the player, who was officially assigned the number 19 shirt and received a commemorative watch along with a replica of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The striker admitted to getting little sleep following the late return to the capital at 3:00 a.m.
We arrived home at 3 a.m. and, between messages and the euphoria I had, I slept very little. It was a very nice moment, we had a lot of desire and euphoria. It was incredible to see that all the players were in the corner celebrating my goal, happy for me. It is a pride.
While searching for permanent housing, Espí resides in the first-team rooms at the Valdebebas training complex. He shares daily routines at the facility with Mourinho, the coaching staff, and defender Marc Cucurella.
