The 27-year-old, currently representing Spain at the tournament hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, has agreed terms on a permanent switch. The transfer fee is reported to be £47.5m upfront, with an additional £4.3m in performance-related add-ons agreed between all parties.
Since the re-election of president Florentino Pérez and the appointment of José Mourinho, Real Madrid are also said to be working on further high-profile targets, including Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, and Ibrahima Konaté, who is expected to arrive after his departure from Liverpool.
Cucurella, who joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 for £63m, had reportedly been open to a return to Spain, where he developed at FC Barcelona’s academy. He had previously been linked with moves to Atlético Madrid and a potential return to Barcelona.
During the March international break, the Catalan defender publicly criticised Chelsea’s hierarchy following the mid-season departure of former manager Enzo Maresca. He was also part of a group of Spanish-speaking players reportedly unsettled by the situation and struggled for consistency under Maresca’s successor, Liam Rosenior.
Cucurella still had three years remaining on his contract, even after agreeing improved terms without extending his deal last season, a factor believed to have influenced Chelsea’s decision to accept the offer.
Rosenior was later dismissed, with Chelsea finishing 10th in the league and missing out on European qualification, despite a brief caretaker spell under Calum McFarlane.
Former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has since been appointed as the club’s permanent manager ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.
