Fran Garcia joins Betis from Real Madrid in €4m deal until 2030
Synopsis
Real Madrid's squad reshuffle is accelerating. Fran Garcia's €4m move to Betis — triggered by Marc Cucurella's arrival from Chelsea — makes him the second Madrid departure this summer, with Dani Ceballos potentially following him to Seville. Across Spain, Athletic Bilbao's 12-year academy product Unai Gomez has also headed to Serie A with Udinese in a deal worth up to €6m.
Key Takeaways
Fran Garcia , 26, joins Real Betis from Real Madrid for a reported €4 million , signing until June 2030 .
Betis acquire 50 percent of Garcia's economic rights; the move was triggered by Marc Cucurella's arrival at Madrid from Chelsea .
Garcia made 109 appearances for Real Madrid over three seasons, mainly as backup to Ferland Mendy and Alvaro Carreras .
Unai Gomez , 23, leaves Athletic Bilbao after 12 years to join Udinese on a deal worth up to €6 million plus sell-on clause, until June 2031 .
Gomez made 117 appearances and scored 6 goals for Athletic Bilbao; new coach Edin Terzic sanctioned the exit.
Young midfielder Eder Garcia has also left Athletic Bilbao on a season-long loan to second-division Cordoba .
Left-back Fran Garcia has completed a move from Real Madrid to Real Betis in a deal reportedly worth around four million euros, the Seville-based club confirmed. The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract running until June 2030, with Betis acquiring 50 percent of his economic rights.
Garcia's journey to Betis
Garcia first came through Real Madrid's youth academy before leaving to join Rayo Vallecano, from where he returned to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2023. Over three seasons back at the club, he made 109 appearances, establishing himself as a dependable option at left-back. However, he largely remained second choice behind Ferland Mendy and Alvaro Carreras.
Why Garcia is leaving Madrid
The arrival of Spain international Marc Cucurella from Chelsea this summer effectively sealed Garcia's fate at the club, leaving him with limited prospects for regular first-team football. He becomes the second player to depart Real Madrid this summer, following midfielder Dani Ceballos, who rescinded his contract and is also reportedly being linked with a move to Betis.
Unai Gomez seals Udinese move from Athletic Bilbao
In a separate transfer, Athletic Bilbao confirmed on Wednesday that midfielder Unai Gomez has joined Italian club Udinese after 12 years at the Basque club. The 23-year-old, born in Bermeo near Bilbao, has penned a deal until June 2031. Udinese paid Athletic Bilbao around 4.5 million euros, plus 1.5 million euros in variable add-ons, with the Spanish club also retaining a percentage of any future transfer fee.
Gomez's time at Athletic Bilbao
Gomez progressed through Athletic Bilbao's renowned youth system and made his senior debut against Real Madrid in the opening fixture of the 2023-24 La Liga season. He went on to make 117 first-team appearances, scoring six goals, though his development was arguably hampered by being deployed across multiple positions — from central midfield to the left wing and even as a makeshift striker.
His departure was facilitated by the return of Peio Canales and Benat Gerenabarrena from successful loan spells, along with the recovery of Benat Prados from a serious knee injury. New Athletic Bilbao head coach Edin Terzic opted to let Gomez leave rather than offer him a reduced role. At Udinese, he will reunite with former teammate Oier Zarraga, who moved to Italy three years ago. Additionally, young midfielder Eder Garcia has departed Athletic Bilbao on a season-long loan to second-division side Cordoba.
Point of View
A structure that keeps Madrid financially tethered to his future valuation. Meanwhile, Gomez's departure from Athletic Bilbao underscores a tension the club has long managed: developing elite academy talent only to lose it when squad depth improves. Terzic's willingness to offload a 23-year-old with 117 appearances signals a clear hierarchy reset — but whether Gomez fulfils his potential in Serie A, or fades into a rotation role at Udinese, will reflect on Bilbao's development model.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Fran Garcia leave Real Madrid?
Fran Garcia left Real Madrid following the club's signing of Spain international Marc Cucurella from Chelsea, which left Garcia as a third-choice left-back with little prospect of regular first-team football. He joins Real Betis on a four-year deal reportedly worth around €4 million.
What are the details of Fran Garcia's contract with Real Betis?
Garcia has signed a four-year contract with Real Betis running until June 2030. Betis have acquired 50 percent of his economic rights, with the deal reportedly valued at around four million euros.
How much did Udinese pay for Unai Gomez?
Udinese paid Athletic Bilbao around 4.5 million euros upfront, plus a further 1.5 million euros in performance-related variables, with Athletic Bilbao also retaining a percentage of any future transfer fee. Gomez has signed a contract until June 2031.
Why did Unai Gomez leave Athletic Bilbao?
Gomez's departure was driven by increased competition for places at Athletic Bilbao, with the returns of Peio Canales and Benat Gerenabarrena from loan spells, plus Benat Prados' recovery from injury, limiting his opportunities. New head coach Edin Terzic sanctioned the move rather than restrict Gomez to a reduced role.
Who is Dani Ceballos and is he also joining Betis?
Dani Ceballos is a Spanish midfielder who recently rescinded his contract with Real Madrid, making him the first departure from the club this summer ahead of Fran Garcia. Reports suggest he could also end up joining Real Betis, though no deal has been confirmed.
