Real Madrid's Most Jaw-Dropping Academy Player Sales: The Ultimate Ranked List

Real Madrid Castilla prospects Gonzalo García and César Palacios have officially signed for Fulham, with the Premier League side securing both players in separate transactions totaling up to €50 million ($57 million) combined.

The transfer fees have sparked considerable debate in football circles, given that 22-year-old García has managed only six top-flight goals throughout his career, while 21-year-old Palacios has accumulated a mere seven senior appearances in total.

The pair represent the latest in a line of Real Madrid's La Fábrica graduates to command significant moves across the continent, generating substantial revenue for the club that nurtured them.

According to Spanish journalist José Luis Sánchez, Madrid have accumulated an extraordinary €440 million ($506 million) from youth player sales over the past six seasons.

La Fábrica products García and Palacios, alongside Mario Martín and Fran García, have all contributed financially through their departures this window. Furthermore, while not classified as direct sales, Madrid have earned well in excess of €100 million ($115 million) through the transfers of Víctor Muñoz, Mario Gila, Álvaro Rodríguez and others via sell-on clauses and retained rights in former academy graduates.

But how does García's substantial price tag stack up against Madrid's greatest academy sale fees of all time? Here are the ten highest amounts Los Blancos have received for players developed at La Fábrica.

10. Álvaro Negredo to Sevilla (€15 Million, 2009)

Having joined Real Madrid's reserve side from Rayo Vallecano around his 20th birthday, Álvaro Negredo thrived at Castilla before being offloaded to Almeria with a buy-back option included.

Following two prolific seasons in La Liga, Negredo was repurchased for just €4 million before being promptly sold to Sevilla—making him, at that point, the most expensive academy departure in Madrid's history.

All the more extraordinary given he never featured for the first team at the club.

The powerful striker went on to represent Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Valencia, among other clubs.

9. Álvaro Morata to Juventus (€20 Million, 2014)

As one of the club's brightest young prospects at the time, Álvaro Morata's departure to Juventus came as something of a shock. The transfer did, naturally, include a buy-back option.

The Spanish forward made a strong impression during his first spell in Italy, most memorably netting two crucial goals in the 2015 Champions League semifinals that helped knock out Real Madrid.

In the summer of 2016, he returned to Los Blancos for a pre-agreed fee of €30 million.

8. Raúl de Tomás to Benfica (€20 Million, 2019)

A striker who progressed through the Madrid academy from the age of 10, Raúl de Tomás made just a single first-team appearance for his boyhood club—coming off the bench in a Copa del Rey match in 2014.

Nevertheless, he performed well enough on loan at Real Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano to persuade Benfica to invest heavily in him.

Ultimately, the move proved disappointing for the Lisbon club, who extracted only three goals in 17 appearances from the striker before he returned to Spain a year later.

7. Jesé Rodríguez to PSG (€25 Million, 2016)

Having progressed from the youth system to the senior squad under José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, Jesé Rodríguez was eventually offloaded to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2016. His contract notably contained an 'anti-Barcelona' clause preventing any future sale to Madrid's fiercest rivals.

The creative forward struggled to leave his mark in France as PSG's grand ambitions drew them toward more high-profile targets. Following four loan moves in as many years, he returned to Spain with his hometown club Las Palmas.

6. Marcos Llorente to Atlético Madrid (€30 Million, 2019)

Having been part of the Real Madrid setup since the age of 13, Marcos Llorente broke into the senior squad in 2015–16 and gradually established himself as one of Spain's most exciting young midfielders over the following campaigns.

However, with a regular starting berth proving elusive, he crossed the city divide to join Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2019, where he continues to feature today, having made 300 appearances as one of Diego Simeone's most dependable figures.

5. Sergio Reguilón to Tottenham Hotspur (€30 Million, 2020)

Handed his senior debut by caretaker manager Santiago Solari, homegrown left back Sergio Reguilón made 22 outings for Madrid during the 2018–19 campaign, competing with Marcelo for the starting spot.

Following a loan stint at Sevilla the next season, where he lifted the Europa League trophy, Spurs were persuaded to invest heavily in the defender, who has since had spells at Manchester United, Atlético Madrid and Inter Miami.

4. Gonzalo García to Fulham (€40 Million, 2026)

A standout performer for Castilla in 2024–25, García announced himself on the global stage at the inaugural Club World Cup, where he claimed the top scorer award ahead of far more seasoned names.

He then entered the 2025–26 season serving as Kylian Mbappé's understudy, contributing eight goals across all competitions. He follows Álvaro Arbeloa through the doors at Fulham, with Los Blancos reportedly holding onto 30% of his economic rights.

3. Achraf Hakimi to Inter Milan (€43 Million, 2020)

After breaking into the first-team picture during the 2017–18 season, Madrid-born Achraf Hakimi dazzled audiences during a two-year loan stint at Dortmund.

His energetic, dynamic performances from right back persuaded Inter Milan to pay the highest fee Real Madrid have ever received for a defender.

After a title-winning season in Italy where he claimed Serie A honours, his reputation has continued to soar at Paris Saint-Germain, where he has been instrumental in consecutive Champions League triumphs.

2. Nico Paz to Como (€60 Million, 2026)

The 21-year-old Argentine talent has sparkled on the shores of Lake Como under the guidance of Cesc Fabregas.

Following a drawn-out saga regarding a potential return to Real Madrid this summer, a fresh financial arrangement was reached allowing Como to secure full ownership of Nico Paz—though Madrid retain a buy-back clause valued at €80 million.

1. Álvaro Morata to Chelsea (€66 Million, 2017)

Indeed, Morata features on this list on two separate occasions. The striker has generated enormous transfer income for Madrid over the years, with the total fees accumulated throughout his career surpassed only by Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku.

Upon returning to the Bernabéu in 2016, Morata delivered an impressive campaign, netting 20 goals in 43 appearances as Madrid claimed a league and Champions League double.

Despite his scoring record, he remained in the shadow of Karim Benzema and Madrid seized the opportunity when Chelsea came knocking.

Now 33, the striker has since had stints at Atlético Madrid, AC Milan and Como.