Real Madrid's ins and outs over the past 10 years, who arrived and who left

Real Madrid is a club in constant renewal. Especially in its first team, where the best players on the planet compete in the world's top competitions of the moment. That's why movements to and from Santiago Bernabéu locker room have been a constant throughout the past decade.

Season 15/16

The 15/16 season began with as many as seven signings, some of them having an essential impact on the successes achieved since then. Names like Mateo Kovacic, Marco Asensio, Casemiro, or Lucas Vázquez joined the squad then coached by Rafael Benítez... who would later be replaced in the position, just a few months later, by Zinédine Zidane.

The departures section was truly extensive, with as many as eleven exits. Some of the most notable were Sami Khedira, Iker Casillas, Illarramendi, or Fábio Coentrão. Some very promising players were also allowed to leave on loan, such as Cherysev or Álvaro Medrán.

Season 16/17

During this season, Real Madrid made barely one signing: Álvaro Morata was brought back from Juventus, having learned the lesson from the previous year, for just €30 million. The rest of the incoming moves took place at Real Madrid: prospects like Odegaard, Mariano Díaz, and Marcos Llorente joined the first reserve team.

This campaign is one of the most hectic in terms of departures from Santiago Bernabéu locker room: twelve operations to move players out of the first team, including loans to other clubs. The most notable sales were Jesé, Cherysev, or Omar Mascarell. Only Álvaro Arbeloa left as a free agent to West Ham, while Diego Llorente or Lucas Silva left on loan.

Season 17/18

Only two additions were made to the first team this campaign: Théo Hernández, from Atlético de Madrid, and the prospect Dani Ceballos from Real Betis. Real Madrid Castilla welcomed great developing talents such as Achraf Hakimi and Philipp Lienhart.

In fact, the latter, the Austrian center-back, would leave on loan to SC Freiburg, the club where he currently plays at 29 years old. With Lienhart, Real Madrid confirmed ten departures that summer: the transfer of Álvaro Morata to Chelsea or the loan of James Rodriguez to Bayern Munich are the most memorable.

Season 18/19

The summer of 2018 was a truly hectic period in the Valdebebas offices: as many as eight signings were made, not counting the footballers who had just arrived at Real Madrid Castilla. The most notable of all, without a doubt, was Vinícius Jr: the player arrived from Flamengo for €45 million (45 millones de euros). The transfers of Courtois, Brahim, or Andriy Lunin can't be forgotten either.

The departures section was marked by an operation that notably affected Madridists: Cristiano Ronaldo's departure. The Portuguese number 7 headed to Juventus after winning the Thirteenth for a transfer fee of €117 million (117 millones de euros). The sales of Philipp Lienhart, Omar Mascarell, and Lucas Torró were also completed.

Season 19/20

The weeks leading up to the start of this season also saw intense activity in the market. The most notable arrival, without a doubt, was Eden Hazard from Chelsea: €120 million (120 millones de euros) were invested in that operation. The Belgian striker was joined by players like Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Reinier Jesús, and Rodrygo Goes.

The sales were few but significant: Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Llorente, Theo Hernández, Raúl de Tomás, and Keylor Navas definitively left Real Madrid that summer of 2019. Multiple loans were also arranged: Sergio Reguilón, Jesús Vallejo, Dani Ceballos, Martin Odegaard, Takefusa Kubo, and Lucas Silva are the most notable.

Season 20/21

There were hardly any moves in the season marked by COVID-19. The summer of 2020 only saw the addition of footballers who returned from their loans signed the previous season: Takefusa Kubo, Martin Odegaard, Takefusa Kubo, and Sergio Reguilón. Several of those players also count in the departures section since they were loaned to other clubs.

In fact, Martin Odegaard and Takefusa Kubo are the most notable of the nine loans arranged that summer. The COVID-19 pandemic forced Madridist leaders to make some exceptional sales, such as Achraf Hakimi to Inter Milan. Players like Sergio Reguilón, James Rodríguez, and Jorge de Frutos were also allowed to leave.

Season 21/22

Carlo Ancelotti's return to Real Madrid brought with it only the addition of Eduardo Camavinga from French side Stade Rennes. That summer of 2021 was intended for Kylian Mbappé to arrive thanks to a €200 million (200 millones de euros) offer, but PSG refused to negotiate for its star. David Alaba, as a free agent from Bayern Munich, arrived to strengthen the defense.

The most notable departures in the 21/22 season are Raphäel Varane and Martin Odegaard: both headed to the Premier League. Brahim Díaz also continued on loan at AC Milan, while Sergio Ramos left as a free agent after failing to secure a contract renewal in time.

Season 22/23

The 22/23 season welcomed just two new additions: the signing of Aurélien Tchouaméni, a top-tier operation from AS Monaco, and Antonio Rüdiger as a free agent. The renewal of Kylian Mbappé with PSG, against all odds, prevented a free transfer that had been planned for that moment.

The most notable sale of that summer of 2022 is Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder left for Manchester United after a glorious spell and, unknowingly, began the end of the most successful midfield in football history. Others like Borja Mayoral, Take Kubo, or Miguel Gutiérrez also brought money into the club's coffers before leaving.

Season 23/24

The major signing of the season was Jude Bellingham: for €113 million (113 millones de euros), according to official data, the British all-round midfielder joined the first team. The midfielder was joined by the young prospect Arda Güler, the return of Fran García from Rayo Vallecano, and the memorable loans of Joselu and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Karim Benzema, Mariano Díaz, and Marco Asensio left Real Madrid that season, all as free agents. Meanwhile, the club's executives managed to complete the transfers of Antonio Blanco and Álvaro Odriozola. Reinier Jesús left again on loan to Italian side Frosinone.

Season 24/25

The summer of 2024 began with the arrival of Kylian Mbappé as a free agent. After a seven-year saga, the Bondy striker finally wore the white jersey. The arrival of Endrick from Palmeiras was also processed, a signing originally closed in January 2023.

The departures section includes footballers such as Rafa Marín, Joselu, Nacho, and Toni Kroos. The great captain decided to see out his contract and leave for Qatar to embark on a new football adventure. The former German number 8 enjoyed a dream farewell at Santiago Bernabéu, thus confirming his retirement from professional soccer.

Season 25/26

Real Madrid has achieved four signings during this summer: Franco Mastantuono, Álvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. It has also managed to include Raúl Asencio and Gonzalo García in the first team, promoted directly from Real Madrid Castilla.

The departures, meanwhile, include two other recent legends: Luka Modric, heading to AC Milan, and a Lucas Vázquez who, for now, doesn't have a team to continue his career. Real Madrid has also allowed Álvaro Rodríguez, heading to Elche, to leave, and has loaned Mario Martín to Getafe for one season.