Real Madrid Secure Record €10M Fee for Academy Player Jacobo Ortega

Real Madrid have officially confirmed the departure of young striker Jacobo Ortega, who has joined Ligue 1 club Strasbourg on a permanent transfer.

The 20-year-old forward leaves Los Blancos without making a senior appearance for the Spanish giants, but his impressive performances at youth and reserve level have earned Real Madrid a significant transfer fee.

Real Madrid Confirm Jacobo Ortega’s Departure

Real Madrid announced Ortega’s permanent transfer to Strasbourg on Monday, August 17. The club thanked the young forward for his dedication throughout his time in the academy and wished him success at the next stage of his career.

According to OneFootball, Real Madrid are set to receive €10 million from the deal. The Spanish club have reportedly sold 70% of Ortega’s rights while retaining a buy-back option, allowing them to potentially bring the striker back in the future.

Ortega’s Impressive 2025-26 Season

Ortega enjoyed an excellent 2025-26 campaign across Real Madrid’s youth and reserve teams. The striker represented Real Madrid C, Juvenil A and Castilla during the season.

Across 56 appearances for the different age-group teams, Ortega scored 18 goals and provided two assists, establishing himself as one of the promising attacking talents within the club’s academy system.

The towering forward also played an important role in Real Madrid’s UEFA Youth League triumph. He found the net in the final against Club Brugge, contributing to the club’s success in the prestigious European youth competition.

Strasbourg Move Offers Ortega a Senior Opportunity

The move to Strasbourg represents a major opportunity for Ortega to establish himself in senior football. Despite his strong record at youth level, he never managed to make his first-team debut at Real Madrid.

Strasbourg could provide the Spaniard with considerably more opportunities to play regular senior football. The club’s attacking options have also changed following Emmanuel Emegha’s move to Chelsea, while Joaquin Panichelli is recovering from a long-term knee injury.

Ortega has reportedly signed a contract running until 2031, giving him a long-term platform to develop in Ligue 1.

Real Madrid Retain Future Control Over Ortega

Although Real Madrid have allowed Ortega to leave permanently, the reported structure of the deal means the club have not completely closed the door on a future return.

The reported buy-back provision could become particularly valuable if Ortega develops into a high-level senior striker at Strasbourg. This type of arrangement allows Real Madrid to generate immediate revenue while retaining an opportunity to bring back a player who develops beyond expectations.

Jose Mourinho Positive About Real Madrid’s Fitness

Meanwhile, Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has expressed satisfaction with the physical condition and mentality of his squad ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Following Madrid’s 3-0 pre-season victory over Schalke, Mourinho praised the attitude of the club’s new and returning players.

“I’m very happy with the recent arrivals. It’s not easy to get into the high intensity we’re working at, having double sessions in the morning with the group and then again at five in the afternoon. They arrived with a top-notch mentality,” Mourinho said.

Mourinho Monitoring World Cup Players

Mourinho also explained that Real Madrid are carefully managing the minutes of players who participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Portuguese coach highlighted the importance of using performance data alongside feedback from the players themselves when determining their workload during pre-season.

He revealed that players including Kylian Mbappe, Ibrahima Konate, Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande were being given controlled minutes as the coaching staff assessed their physical condition.

“These are things we analyse scientifically with the data we have and most importantly, with the players’ own understanding of their bodies. We’ve arrived at this week in very good shape,” Mourinho said.

Real Madrid Prepare for New La Liga Campaign

Real Madrid will enter the 2026-27 season looking to bounce back after going trophyless during the previous campaign.

Los Blancos are scheduled to begin their La Liga campaign away against Espanyol on August 22. Their first home league match is scheduled for August 26 against Real Sociedad.

While Ortega’s departure represents the end of his journey through Real Madrid’s academy, the reported €10 million deal and retained future options demonstrate how the club continues to generate value from its youth system.