Real Madrid have reportedly completed the signing of 19-year-old midfielder Sergio Martínez from Racing Santander, bringing an end to several days of transfer speculation. The Spanish youngster is expected to move to Real Madrid’s training complex at Valdebebas and initially become part of Castilla. However, his development could also see him train or feature occasionally with the senior squad under Jose Mourinho, with a potential place in the first-team setup still possible during the season.

Madrid reached an agreement with Racing without major complications and are prepared to activate Martínez’s €3 million release clause. Although his existing contract with Racing was due to run until 2029, the teenager is now set to sign a new long-term agreement with Real Madrid that will reportedly keep him at the club until 2030. The deal is awaiting its official announcement, with the transfer regarded as another investment in the club’s long-term strategy of securing promising young talent before their market value rises.

Martínez has already attracted attention with his rapid emergence at Racing. The third-year youth player made his senior debut on August 16 at El Sardinero against Villarreal and marked the occasion by scoring Racing’s second goal in a 2-2 draw. Real Madrid had been monitoring his progress for some time before stepping up their interest, and the midfielder reportedly turned down approaches from clubs in England, Germany and Saudi Arabia once the opportunity to join the Spanish giants became realistic.

Several LaLiga clubs had also shown interest in Martínez, including Barcelona and Villarreal, but the youngster chose to continue his development at Racing despite the limited opportunities expected at a club that had only recently returned to the top division after 14 years away. His move to Madrid now provides a different pathway, with Castilla offering regular competitive football while the first team remains an ambitious target. Reports also indicate that Martínez could earn around €800,000 annually and live at the Valdebebas facilities, giving him the environment and resources to develop into a potential first-team player in the coming years.