For the first time since 2012/13, Real Madrid started a new campaign without Dani Carvajal in their defence.
The right-back, widely regarded as one of the greatest in the modern era, announced his decision to leave club during the summer after 13 glittering seasons.
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Carvajal departed the Bernabeu as a four-time LaLiga winner and six-time Champions League victor, with a multitude of other honours to also show for his efforts.
He made 451 appearances at Madrid in addition to collecting a Euro 2024 winner’s medal with Spain during his spell.
With the 2026/27 campaign already underway across Europe, Carvajal is one of many notable free agents with past success looking for a new challenge.
A move to the Premier League is one strong option for the 34-year-old, presenting him with the opportunity to play in what is argued to be the best league in football.
European football journalist Andy Brassell spoke to talkSPORT.com to assess the given options.
Who could Carvajal sign for?
“Fulham seems like the obvious one,” he said, pointing to Carvajal’s former Madrid teammate Alvaro Arbeloa who is now in charge at Craven Cottage.
“It depends how long Arbeloa can hang onto his job, obviously, because it’s been a difficult start for him.
“But, I think the main difficulty I have with imagining Carvajal in the Premier League at this moment, is he’s not really had a pre-season with a club.
“I think at 34, that is very difficult to get over, and even more so when you think that he would be expected to adapt to the Premier League as well.
“I could definitely see it happening at Fulham, if not Liverpool. We know Liverpool have had their issues at right-back of late. I can see it happening, I’m not sure it should be happening.
“I think for him to arrive at the pace after no pre-season is going to be extremely, extremely difficult for him.
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“But, in terms of what he can actually bring and him as a leader, there’s just no argument really. He’s as good as it gets, an absolute serial winner as well.
“And when you look at him and the moments where he’s really come up big for Real Madrid, like the opening goal in the 2024 Champions League final [against Borussia Dortmund], him just being an excellent right-back is only part of the equation.
“He’s got so much more to give and if you’re Fulham and Liverpool, because they’ve arguably lacked a bit since all the changes last summer, that leadership has got to be a huge part of the equation.
“Not just getting him to play every week, but getting him to bring up standards and be a leader in the dressing room.”
Fulham
After Marco Silva left for Benfica, Arbeloa was named as his successor at Fulham after spending the second half of last season with Madrid.
However, he has overseen a worrying start at Craven Cottage as they have lost all of their opening three matches, conceding seven goals.
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Fulham are 19th in the Premier League and, despite it still being early in the season, have already been touted for a potential battle against relegation to the Championship.
Carvajal would not only arrive as competition for Kenny Tete and Timothy Castagne at right-back but, as Brassell mentioned, provide a sense of leadership that could inspire them out of their rut.
Although, with Fulham possibly heading towards a season to forget, it may not be an attractive prospect for him amid the risk of having a relegation on his CV.
Liverpool
Spending in attacking areas was high at Liverpool during the summer as they completed deals for Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz worth a combined £157million.
But, these funds could arguably have been set aside to address the issue they have in the right-back position.
Conor Bradley remains sidelined with the knee injury that he suffered away at Arsenal in January, and Jeremie Frimpong has flattered to deceive since his £29.5m move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
Joe Gomez can play on the right-hand side of the defence but is still prone to fitness issues, with Barcelona loanee and natural centre-back Ronald Araujo playing there in the 2-0 win at Ipswich Town.
Bradley and Frimpong look set to be the long-term options at right-back for Liverpool and so, whilst injury issues continue to trouble them, Carvajal could be a smart stopgap for Andoni Iraola.
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Manchester City
Abdukodir Khusanov and Rico Lewis have been given starting roles at right-back under Enzo Maresca for City this season, with Matheus Nunes another option.
Lewis is debatably the more natural player among the three and, at 21 years old, would likely benefit from some Carvajal-style influence.
The legendary full-back could also work himself into the leadership group at City, which was announced by Maresca last week.
Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma are the players trusted with being vocal in the dressing room, but none have the long-term reputation that Carvajal can offer.
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