Real Madrid have officially announced the transfer of young striker Jacobo Ortega to French Ligue 1 side Racing Club de Strasbourg in a deal worth €10 million, with the Spanish giants retaining 70% of the player’s rights.
Ortega makes history as the most expensive player to leave Real Madrid without making a single appearance for the senior first team. The deal marks the end of an eight-year journey within the club’s youth setup, having joined the legendary academy in 2018 at just 12 years of age.
“Real Madrid C. F. and Racing Club de Strasbourg have agreed on the transfer of our player Jacobo Ortega,” Real Madrid confirmed in an official statement, highlighting his eight seasons developing through the various age groups of La Fabrica.
During the 2025–2026 season, Ortega played a pivotal role in leading Real Madrid’s Juvenil A (Under-19) team to victory in the UEFA Youth League, drawing serious interest from several top European clubs before opting for a move to France.
This transfer caps off an unprecedented summer financially for Real Madrid, pushing total revenue generated from academy sales to an astonishing €200 million. The record-breaking figure underscores the massive financial and sporting success of La Fabrica in nurturing top-tier talent and converting youth development into substantial revenue.
Recent high-profile departures—including Nico Paz, Gonzalo García, César Palacios, and Víctor Muñoz—had already driven academy sales to record heights before Ortega’s €10 million fee added another significant boost to the club’s coffers.
By retaining a massive 70% share of Ortega’s future economic rights, Real Madrid ensure they will profit substantially from any potential future transfer while keeping a close eye on the development of one of their brightest academy graduates in recent years.
