Illia Voloshyn joins Real Madrid's squad for El Clasico
Illia Voloshyn, 19-year-old Ukrainian goalkeeper, has been included in Real Madrid's squad for tonight's Clasico against Barcelona, replacing Thibaut Courtois, who has been ruled out due to a flu. However, the starter will be his compatriot Andriy Lunin.
From war to the Spanish academy
Born on 15 January 2007 in Novomoskovsk, now called Samar, the goalkeeper is 2.02 meters tall, his most recognizable physical trait. At fifteen, after the Russian invasion, he left Dnipro in the spring of 2022, leaving his mother in Ukraine, and took refuge in Novelda, Alicante. There the local team gave him his first opportunity to continue playing in an unfamiliar environment and language.
He later joined Rayo Majadahonda, thanks to his tutor's management and the intervention of Roman Zozulya, then a Real Madrid player, with whom he kept contact through Ukraine's youth categories.
Signing with Real Madrid and progression
In January 2024, when he had just turned seventeen, Real Madrid signed him for an initial fee of €70,000, with variables that could raise the amount to €1.2 million, figures not officially confirmed. Since then he has moved through the youth teams C, B and A, and this season he joins the club’s second reserve side. He currently belongs to Real Madrid C under the direction of Marc Carrasco. The club’s social media announced his arrival.
Who is Illia Voloshyn, the goalkeeper called up for the Clasico?
His honours include three trophies won in 2026: the UEFA Youth League, the Champions Cup and the Under‑20 Intercontinental Cup, as well as having represented Ukraine at the Under‑20 level.
José Mourinho gave him minutes during pre‑season, and in the friendly against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen he came on in the second half replacing Andriy Lunin, debuting with the first team albeit unofficially.
The unexpected absence of Courtois due to flu opens a new door for the Ukrainian goalkeeper, who returns to the list for the clash against Barcelona, although the starting spot will remain in Lunin’s hands.