Dani Carvajal joins Getafe on deal until June 2027

Dani Carvajal has joined Getafe on a contract running until 30 June 2027, the Spanish club announced on Tuesday. The 34-year-old right-back returns to club football after leaving Real Madrid at the end of his contract in June. BBC Sport reported that the former Madrid captain has signed on a free transfer, keeping him in La Liga.

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Getafe's announcement highlighted the experience and leadership Carvajal brings to the squad. The club credited him with 29 trophies across his Real Madrid and Spain career, including six Champions League titles and the 2024 European Championship. He has made 51 appearances for his country, with his international honours also including the Nations League in 2023.

The move follows discussions over how the signing would fit within Getafe's financial limits. According to EFE, club president Angel Torres had said Carvajal passed a medical, while making the proposed transfer dependent on an agreement with LaLiga over the salary limit. The defender now joins a side coached by Jose Bordalas, who had been seeking reinforcements for the flanks.

Carvajal spent 23 years associated with Real Madrid, including 13 seasons in the first team, and won 27 trophies with the club. He also played for Bayer Leverkusen before returning to Madrid. EFE reported that he made 451 appearances for the Spanish club and scored against Borussia Dortmund in the 2024 Champions League final at Wembley.

His final years at Madrid were disrupted by injuries. BBC Sport reported that he suffered a cruciate ligament tear in October 2024 and another serious knee injury a year later. Those fitness problems, together with Trent Alexander-Arnold's arrival, restricted his appearances in his last Madrid season. Getafe's announcement did not specify when he would make his debut.

The signing takes Carvajal to a club based in the south of the Spanish capital and sitting 11th in La Liga, according to BBC Sport. Getafe are also competing in the Conference League. The move is his first club appointment since the summer expiry of his Madrid deal, with the newly confirmed agreement covering the remainder of the season.