Dani Carvajal joins Getafe but misses UEFA Conference League clash with Universitatea Craiova

Dani Carvajal was officially presented as a new Getafe player on October 13, 2026. The signing comes just two days before Getafe is scheduled to face Universitatea Craiova in the UEFA Conference League. Carvajal joined the La Liga club after spending three months as a free agent following his departure from Real Madrid.

The 34-year-old defender signed a contract valid until June 30, 2027. Getafe finalized the transfer after resolving financial fair play issues that had previously put the deal at risk. The club occupies 11th place in La Liga at the time of the announcement.

Carvajal will not be available for selection against Universitatea Craiova. He is not included on Getafe’s UEFA list for the competition. The match is set for Thursday at 19:45 and marks the debut of Craiova’s European campaign in the main phase of the tournament.

Universitatea Craiova qualified for the UEFA Conference League for the second consecutive year. In addition to Getafe, Craiova will also face Brighton from the Premier League in the competition. The Romanian side is coached by Olteni.

Carvajal spent 23 seasons associated with Real Madrid, including 10 years in the academy and 13 with the first team. Sources differ on his total appearance count for the club, with one reporting 450 matches and another citing 552 games. He scored between 14 and 18 goals depending on the source, with one report also noting 82 assists.

During his time at Real Madrid, Carvajal won 27 trophies with the club. This total places him as the second most decorated player in the club's history, behind Luka Modric. His honors include six UEFA Champions League titles, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, and four Spanish Super Cups.

On the international stage, Carvajal earned 51 caps for the Spain national team. He was part of the squad that won Euro 2024. In total, he has won 29 trophies combining his achievements with both Real Madrid and Spain.

Carvajal is currently valued at 3.5 million euros. This figure represents a significant decrease from his peak valuation of 60 million euros in 2018. Earlier reports indicated that Fabrizio Romano had confirmed the agreement and medical tests, while other outlets noted the need for La Liga approval regarding financial limits before the official announcement.