Real Madrid have finalized an agreement to sign 19-year-old Racing Santander starlet Sergio Martínez in a transfer targeted at the near future, which could also grant manager José Mourinho an additional midfield option for the first team during the current campaign.
According to reports, Real Madrid will pay approximately €3 million to complete the deal, with Martínez signing a long-term contract running through the summer of 2030. He will join the capital club immediately without returning to Racing on loan. The player rejected interest and formal offers from English, German, and Saudi clubs, alongside approaches from Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Villarreal, after giving absolute priority to moving to the Spanish capital.
Who is Sergio Martínez?
Sergio Martínez Montero was born in the town of Laredo on May 15, 2007. He progressed through Racing Santander’s youth academy to reach the senior setup, making his professional debut against Castellón in Spain’s Segunda División.
During the 2025–26 season, Martínez made 10 appearances for Racing’s first team alongside 17 matches for the reserve side, feature in 27 total fixtures to help secure the club’s return to La Liga following a 14-year absence. He has also represented Spain at the Under-19 international level.
Martínez’s La Liga debut proved ideal: he started against Villarreal on opening weekend and scored a brilliant 34th-minute goal in a 2–2 draw, recording his first top-flight goal at 19 years and 93 days old.
The youngster retained his starting spot in the following fixture against Getafe before being substituted at halftime, and subsequently remained on the bench against Elche as negotiations for his transfer to Real Madrid accelerated.
Position & Real Madrid’s Development Plan
Martínez operates primarily as a central midfielder, capable of playing as a deep-lying #6 anchor, a box-to-box #8, or advanced in the #10 role behind the strikers. Standing 1.85 meters tall, he is known for his progressive passing, capability to link lines, and deep playmaking ability.
The initial plan sees the midfielder join Real Madrid Castilla to compete in Spain’s third tier without being isolated from the first-team environment. He is expected to train regularly under Mourinho, who personally intervened in the transfer after being impressed by his potential.
While Martínez will be eligible for senior selection upon call-up, he is not expected to become a regular fixture in Mourinho’s starting lineup right away. His opportunities will depend on his performances with Castilla and first-team squad needs, with potential minutes coming in the Copa del Rey or during periods of injuries and suspensions before long-term decisions are made.
Real Madrid’s Summer 2026 Transfer Spending
Upon completing formal procedures, Sergio Martínez will become Real Madrid’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window, following six acquisitions to strengthen various departments under Mourinho.
Los Blancos previously acquired winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for €125 million, left-back Marc Cucurella for €55 million, forward Carlos Espe for €25 million, and Dutch right-back Denzel Dumfries for €20 million. Additionally, the club secured central defender Ibrahima Konaté on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Liverpool, alongside Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva following his departure from Manchester City.
Real Madrid’s expenditure on the previous six signings reached approximately €225 million, bringing the total summer outlay to roughly €228 million with the addition of Martínez—a low-cost investment relative to the club’s major deals with strong long-term upside.
