Real Madrid's registration race clashes with holiday‑bound signings

As the 2026‑27 season looms, Real Madrid are racing to register new defenders for Jose Mourinho’s squad, even as the four recent signings enjoy World Cup holidays, highlighting a split between administrative progress and player downtime and the club’s push to secure a further blockbuster signing.

The Merengues have already completed four new signings and are now reportedly on the verge of adding RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande to the roster.

For now, none of the four signings made by Los Blancos has joined up with the team, as they are still enjoying their holidays after the World Cup.

Real Madrid registered Dutch full‑back Denzel Dumfries with La Liga on 18 July, becoming the first top‑flight club to register a new signing this summer.

On Monday the club also registered Spanish full‑back Marc Cucurella. The registration did not require the €57,809 fee normally charged for players from another league, but a €1,268.50 licence fee was paid, adding to the €55 million fixed fee already paid to Chelsea and a promised €5 million in variables.

So far only four players have been registered by first‑division clubs in Spain: Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella for Real Madrid, and Cala and Quilindschy Hartman for Espanyol.

The contrast between holiday‑bound signings and swift administrative action shows Real Madrid is laying the groundwork for Mourinho’s squad while the players unwind, setting the stage for integration once the World Cup break ends.