Real Madrid secure loan deal for Espanyol's forward Joselu

The announcement was made on Monday via social media, revealing the club's efforts to strengthen its attacking force.

At the age of 33, Joselu impressed last season, scoring 16 LaLiga goals for Espanyol. His goal tally placed him behind only Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema, despite Espanyol's unfortunate relegation from the top flight of Spanish football.

Joselu's contribution to Spain's UEFA Nations League campaign also turned heads. As a substitute in the 84th minute of the semifinal, he scored the winning goal against Italy in a 2-1 victory.

Real Madrid's search for a striker intensified with the departures of Benzema and Mariano Diaz this month, leaving Vinicius Junior and Rodrgyo as the club's sole senior forwards.

Joselu, originally signed by Madrid from Celta Vigo in 2009, made an impact during his tenure with the club's reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla, where he netted an impressive 26 goals in the 2011-12 season.

Following his time in Madrid, Joselu ventured abroad, playing for Hoffenheim in Germany, and subsequently had spells at Eintracht Frankfurt, Hannover 96, Stoke City, Deportivo La Coruna, and Newcastle United. It was at Alaves where he regained his goalscoring touch, tallying 36 LaLiga goals over three seasons from 2019 to 2022.

After his move to Espanyol last July, Joselu hit his peak form, earning his first call-up to the Spanish national team at the age of 32 in March. During his debut, he scored twice in three minutes, contributing to Spain's impressive 3-0 Euro 2024 qualifying victory over Norway.

Real Madrid's latest signing adds depth and experience to their attacking options, bolstering their pursuit of domestic and international success.