Former Getafe star Marc Cucurella looks to be closing in on a £50million move to Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion.
With reigning Premier League champions Manchester City unwilling to meet the Seagulls asking price for the 24-year-old, the Blues have hijacked the deal for the Spaniard.
The left-back was keen to join Pep Guardiola’s Citizens and had submitted a transfer request last week, but it now looks like Cucurella will be heading to Stamford Bridge instead of the Etihad.
Cucurella, who was named Brighton’s player of the season in his maiden campaign in England, joined the Seagulls from Getafe for £15m last August.
After starting his career with Barcelona, the five-time Spain international moved to Getafe on a permanent deal in 2020 having spent a season on loan at the La Liga side.
Brighton’s number three scored one goal during what looks like will be his solitary campaign at the Amex Stadium, which came in a 4-0 win against Manchester United.
With Cucurella seemingly west London bound, HITC Sport takes a look at four other former Getafe stars who moved to the Premier League during their careers.
Former Getafe stars that moved to the Premier League
Vicente Guaita
The Spaniard spent four years at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez following his free transfer move from Valencia.
The 35-year-old played 135 times for Getafe from which he registered 29 clean sheets before joining Crystal Palace.
Heading into his fifth season at Selhurst Park, Palace’s number 13 has 40 clean sheets from 126 outings, but with former West Bromwich Albion stopper Sam Johnstone joining the Eagles, Guaita will face a stern test retaining the number one spot under Patrick Vieira.
Emiliano Buendia
After making the decision to leave Real Madrid’s youth setup to join Getafe, the Argentine went on to make 39 appearances for the Azulones first team.
The one-time Argentina international spent three seasons at Carrow Road following his move to Norwich City. The playmaker finished his time with the Canaries averaging well over a goal involvement in every other match.
From 121 matches for the Suffolk-based side, the South American produced 24 goals and 42 assists.
Prior to becoming Aston Villa’s record-signing in a £33m move, the 25-year-old scored 15 goals and laid on 17 assists during the 2020-21 Championship campaign.
In his first season with the Villains, Buendia scored four goals and supplied six assists.
Roberto Soldado
After making the move from Real Madrid, Soldado scored 33 goals across two seasons for Getafe before being snapped up by Valencia.
At the Mestalla, the Spanish striker scored 82 goals from 140 games, including 24 in his final La Liga campaign for Los Ches.
With Tottenham Hotspur planning for life without Gareth Bale and looking to fill the Welshman’s goalscoring void, the north Londoners splashed out £26m to sign the former Spain international.
Soldado struggled to replicate the clinical goalscoring form he showed in Spain over to England and he finished his Spurs career with 16 goals from 76 matches.
The 37-year-old is currently playing for Levante in Spain’s second tier.
Alvaro Morata
A product of the Getafe academy, Morata never featured for Azulones’ first team before joining Real Madid’s youth setup.
After spending two years with Juventus, Real Madrid re-signed the forward before Chelsea splashed out a then club-record £60m to bring Morata to Stamford Bridge.
Like his fellow countryman Soldado, Morata struggled to adapt to the rigours and tempo of the Premier League. He finished his Chelsea with 24 goals from 72 appearances.
After spending the last two seasons on loan at Juventus, the 29-year-old is back at Atletico Madrid who he left Chelsea to join.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
