Fulham announced on August 4 they have signed 22-year-old Gonzalo García and 21-year-old César Palacios from Real Madrid on five-year contracts lasting until summer 2031, with an option to extend by one year [1, 2, 3]. The transfers reportedly involved fees of £34 million (€40 million / $45-$46 million) for García and £8.5 million for Palacios [4, 1, 2, 3].
García will reunite with Fulham's new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, who joined the club in July after leaving Real Madrid at the end of the last season [4, 1, 2, 3]. García and Arbeloa had previously worked together at Real Madrid. García, a product of Real Madrid's academy since age 10, made his senior Spain debut in June 2026 [4, 3].
During the 2025-26 season, García made between 35 and 51 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid and scored between 8 and 13 goals, depending on source. One source reported 39 appearances and 8 goals, while others reported up to 51 appearances and 13 goals [4, 1, 2, 3].
Palacios was a former Real Madrid teammate of García and made between 5 and 7 senior appearances, often as a substitute, in cup and European competitions [4, 1, 2].
García expressed his excitement about joining Fulham, saying, "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" [4, 3]. Real Madrid released a statement thanking García for his commitment and dedication and wishing him and his family well in the next stage of his career [3].
Fulham will begin their 2026-27 Premier League season on August 24 with a home game against Chelsea [1, 2].
