Fulham are closing in on Real Madrid midfielder Thiago Pitarch after manager Alvaro Arbeloa made the 18-year-old a priority signing. The London club, finishing 12th in the Premier League last season with 44 points (13W-5D-14L), see Pitarch as the next talent from Madrid’s academy to join Craven Cottage.
Why does Arbeloa want Pitarch?
Arbeloa, appointed in July 2026 on a three-year deal, knows Pitarch well from his time as a youth coach at Real Madrid. The teenager has already agreed in principle to the move, which would make him the third canterano to arrive this summer after Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios. Pitarch is currently injured but remains eager to link up with Arbeloa’s project.
What’s the holdup?
Negotiations between Fulham and Real Madrid are ongoing, with no deal yet finalised. Los Blancos are open to letting Pitarch leave for regular first-team minutes but want to retain a buy-back option, as they have with Garcia and Palacios. Fans have joked on social media that Fulham are becoming a ‘Madrid lite’ in the Premier League.
How does this fit Fulham’s summer?
With the new season yet to begin, Fulham’s squad rebuild continues after a 2025 campaign that saw them score 43 goals and concede 46. Pitarch’s arrival would add depth to a midfield looking to improve on last year’s 12th-place finish, 26 points behind leaders Arsenal. Their next fixture is away to Arsenal on 20 February 2027.
