Real Madrid Signs Midfielder with €90 Million Release Clause, 2026 Transfer

The rumor mill in the Spanish capital is that Real Madrid still needs a midfielder, at least according to Xabi Alonso. However, there has been little movement in this regard for some time, and Real Madrid appears to be delaying the matter, asking Alonso to utilize existing resources.

Alonso reportedly supports Real Madrid signing a midfielder, but president Florentino Perez is unwilling to break the bank on any of his options this summer. Their policy is to err on the side of no-signing rather than being forced into a corner. The only exception Perez has in mind is Manchester City’s Rodri Hernandez, but it’s unclear whether they can pry him away from the club or whether they’re willing to spend big on him given his serious back injury.

2025 Ballon d’Or Candidates

Vitinha was nominated for the Ballon d’Or by France Football on Thursday, becoming one of the favorites for the award. He will turn 26 next summer, and in the current market, Real Madrid will undoubtedly value Luis Enrique’s director of midfield operations, who led the team to this season’s Champions League for €90 million.

Real Madrid has confirmed Vitinha’s transfer in 2026 for €90 million.

According to Marca, Real Madrid has identified Vitinha as a potential option for next summer. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder had previously been linked with Real Madrid and was the subject of intense interest from the Bernabéu. However, any transfer was described as impossible last season.

Now, however, they have noticed a clause, or at least an agreement, in Vitinha’s contract with PSG. While Ligue 1 technically doesn’t allow release clauses, they have learned that Vitinha can leave PSG for a decreasing fee each year—a sum that will reach €90 million next summer, after the World Cup.