Gonzalo García, the top scorer of the Club World Cup and one of the most intriguing figures in Real Madrid’s post-Mbappé era, may be on his way to the Premier League. The report comes from the Daily Mail and fits perfectly with what’s happening now: Brighton is tracking the 21-year-old forward and already open to making a move, while Leeds and Sunderland also evaluated him during the most recent transfer window. The story gained traction because, despite his shine in the intercontinental tournament, Gonzalo has basically lost his place in the 2025–26 season.
The fast rise and the sudden brake
Gonzalo became a global talking point when Xabi Alonso decided to bet on him in the Club World Cup. Without Mbappé and without Endrick at the time, the coach needed an immediate alternative and saw in the kid someone who could handle pressure. And he did. He scored four goals in six matches, including the strike that knocked Juventus out in the round of 16, likely the defining moment of Real’s run in the tournament. Meanwhile, Mbappé only became a starter in the semifinal, which happened to be the game where Real Madrid was crushed 4–0 by PSG.
The problem is that his international spotlight didn’t translate into space once the regular season got going. With Mbappé fully fit, Gonzalo lost his spot completely in the forward hierarchy. The numbers tell the whole story: he played 449 minutes in the Club World Cup, but only 107 minutes across nine Real Madrid matches this season. And that doesn’t include stoppage time. He started just once, in the 2–0 win over Espanyol, when he played 61 minutes. The rest has been short cameos late in games, something that wears down any young player who needs real minutes to grow.
Why the Premier League became a realistic destination?
This is where the Premier League comes into play, with English clubs targeting a young forward who isn’t getting opportunities at a European giant. With Gonzalo, the equation is ideal: proven talent, young age, resale potential and no clear short-term path at Real Madrid.
Brighton, now known for identifying promising players and developing them at a high level, is following the situation closely. The club believes it can offer what the forward doesn’t have in Madrid right now: consistent minutes, a real role and a less rigid environment to evolve. Leeds and Sunderland, mentioned in the last window, show that the interest isn’t new, but the feeling is that Brighton fits his profile better at this moment.
And if the market has taught anything, it’s that minutes matter more than a badge. If nothing changes in how he’s used, the trend points to another Valdebebas talent finding his peak somewhere far from Madrid.