Dani Carvajal has signed with Getafe CF as a free agent on a contract running through June 30, 2027, according to an official announcement made by the club on its social media channels. The 34-year-old right-back arrives at the Coliseum following the expiration of his contract with Real Madrid last June, concluding a 23-year association with the club where he spent 13 seasons in the first team and served as captain.
The Free Transfer to Getafe
The transition follows weeks of speculation and negotiations complicated by financial control rules imposed by La Liga. Getafe president Ángel Torres initially acknowledged ongoing talks regarding player registration with DAZN before briefly describing the operation to assembled reporters as a joke and “smoke,” prior to the club confirming the signature on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Two Decades of Honors at Real Madrid
Carvajal departs Real Madrid carrying one of the most decorated résumés in European club football. Across 451 official appearances for the club since joining the youth ranks in 2002—interrupted only by a single season at Bayer Leverkusen—he collected 27 major trophies. His collection includes six Champions League titles, six FIFA Club World Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey, and four Spanish Super Cups. He stands among a select group of five players in football history to win six European Cups, having started in each of those finals and scored during Real Madrid’s fifteenth continental triumph.
Recovery from Knee Surgery
The defender enters his new chapter attempting to regain his peak form following a severe right knee injury. In October 2024, Carvajal suffered a torn cruciate ligament that sidelined him for nine months. His final appearance for Real Madrid came on May 23, 2026, before finishing the campaign without a club. At international level, the Leganés native has earned 52 caps for the Spain national team, contributing to the squad that triumphed at the 2023 UEFA Nations League and UEFA Euro 2024.
Integration Under José Bordalás
Getafe manager José Bordalás specifically requested defensive reinforcements on the flanks during the transfer window. Club officials stated that initial medical examinations cleared the player, and Torres confirmed in interviews with rights holders that conversations with Carvajal confirmed his physical readiness to return to competitive action. The club’s leadership anticipates that the defender’s experience and style will align with the tactical demands of the technical staff as Getafe prepares for its upcoming fixtures in the domestic schedule.
