Real Madrid has renewed Joan Martínez’s contract through 2029, bumping his release clause up to €150 million. For an 18-year-old center back still coming back from a tough knee injury, that’s a bold move and one loaded with meaning. It’s not every day that the most demanding club in the world ties itself to someone who’s barely had the chance to show what he can really do.
A collision with Endrick that changed the path
Martínez arrived at Real Madrid in 2023 after leaving Levante and, in no time, worked his way into the academy setup. His rise was quick, so quick that by the summer of 2024 he was already included in the first team’s preseason. Then came the twist. A clash with forward Endrick left him with torn ligaments in his left knee. Surgery followed, months of rehab kept him off the field, and that early momentum disappeared. Most kids in his spot might have faded. Joan didn’t. He treated the whole thing like a challenge. When he returned, he joined Castilla, trained under Álvaro Arbeloa, and made it clear he’s not planning on being just another talent that stalls out.
A deal that says more than speeches ever could
Locking him in until 2029 is no routine formality. Real Madrid doesn’t throw around contracts of this weight for just anyone. A €150 million clause attached to his name tells the story, he’s being marked out as part of the long-term plan. It’s the club’s way of saying, without spelling it out, “we trust you.” Joan took it that way too. On his social channels, he talked about strengthening his bond with the club and thanked both the staff and fans for standing by him during his hardest months. Normally that might sound like the usual words players say, but here it feels real. When you remember everything he’s gone through, the gratitude and relief come through naturally.
Now that the paperwork is done, the waiting is over. Joan needs to prove at Castilla that he’s more than promise on paper. Real Madrid is famous for having little patience with players who don’t step up, but they also reward the ones who do. This new deal is both faith and pressure rolled into one. At 18, he’s already shown he won’t fold easily. What he has to show now is that he can turn all that faith into real performances. If he manages that, this contract running to 2029 won’t just be an extension, it’ll be remembered as the turning point of a career marked by scars early on but with every chance to grow into something much bigger.