OFFICIAL: Real Madrid sign Franco Mastantuono

Real Madrid have confirmed that they have completed the signing of Franco Mastantuono from River Plate.

The 17-year-old sensation, who will turn 18 in August, has signed a deal that will run until 2031 and he will join his new side after the FIFA Club World Cup.

The youngster’s release clause with River Plate was set at €45 million and the Argentine club have announced this was paid by Real Madrid. Indeed, the total value of the transfer is €63.2m, a record for Argentine football.

Los Blancos have, after all, made a busy start to the transfer window, having already added Trent Alexander-Arnold to their ranks in a €10m move from Liverpool as well Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen in a €59.5m agreement.

In a statement published on the club’s official website, Real Madrid say: “Real Madrid CF announces that Franco Mastantuono will be a player for our club for the next six seasons, from August 14, 2025, to June 30, 2031.

“Mastantuono developed in River Plate’s youth system between 2019 and 2024, and was part of the first team during the 2024-2025 season. In February 2024, he became the youngest scorer in River Plate’s history, winning an Argentine Super Cup with them.

“At 17, he is also the youngest player to play an official match with the Argentine national team in its entire history.”

Breakdown of where Mastantuono’s €63m fee goes

• €45m – River Plate
• €11.8m – Spanish tax authorities
• €1.4m – Argentine professional footballers’ union
• €0.9m – AFA Structural Funds
• €3.6m – Decree 510/2023 (a social security regime for professional football transactions in Argentina)
• €0.5m – Other fees

Deal rushed through

Real Madrid had hoped to sign Mastantuono in January 2026, but they were pressed into immediate action as PSG made their interest in the Argentine teenager clear.

He is the latest in a long line of young players signed from South America to go into Los Blancos’ squad, with the likes of Vini Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick all still at the club.

Madrid are set to pay a little over the odds to sign Mastanuono immediately, with the 18-year-old’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sitting at €18.4.

Los Blancos expect great things of the youngster, who Xabi Alonso spoke to personally in order to persuade him to move to the Bernabeu.

As Mastantuono holds dual Argentine and Italian citizenship, he can join Real Madrid immediately.