Transfer news from Real Madrid: A record-breaking 16-year-old is “close” to joining the Bernabeu as expectations rise

A report claims that Real Madrid is aiming to sign 16-year-old Gilberto Mora, a sensation at Club Tijuana.

After defeating Real Oviedo 3-0 on Sunday night, Los Blancos are now two wins under Xabi Alonso in the 2025–26 La Liga season, following an opening victory over Osasuna.

In that Bernabeu match, Kylian Mbappe stole the show with a brace, but Turkish sensation Arda Guler also received a lot of praise for setting up the Frenchman’s first goal in the capital.

New hires Alonso chose Franco Mastantuono, Alvaro Carreras, and Dean Huijsen at the first whistle, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, a former Liverpool player, entered for the final moments of the match.

Although Real Madrid is believed to have finished their lucrative summer window business, the 15-time European champions are reportedly still open to market opportunities for the next generation of players.
After recently expressing interest in a deal for the 2008-born talent, Real Madrid is reportedly already “close” to signing Tijuana’s Mora, according to Spanish publication Fichajes.

When they think the time is right, the Spanish powerhouses will make an official bid for Mora, who is reportedly controlled by Los Blancos in every game he plays for his current team.

Unsurprisingly, the report also states that Mora would begin his career in Real Madrid’s Castilla squad with the goal of eventually making his way to the first team, and that both parties have “growing expectations” that a deal could be finalized soon.

The Mexican club is reportedly buzzing with excitement over the possibility of an impending transfer, and those close to Tijuana seem to think that Mora joining Real Madrid would be a “source of pride” for the Liga MX team.
Mora, a small attacking midfielder who came from the Tijuana youth academy, made his senior debut in 2024 at the age of 15, and the playmaker has already made history.

At just 15 years and 320 days old, Mora became the youngest goal scorer in the history of the Mexican topflight on August 31, 2024, when he scored his first Liga MX goal for Tijuana in a 2-1 victory over Leon.

Both at home and on the continent, Mora has been getting better and better. He recently scored both of Tijuana’s goals in a 5-2 Leagues Cup loss to MLS team Los Angeles Galaxy, and he also scored two more goals in a 3-3 Liga MX draw with Chivas on Saturday.

Although Mora has experimented with center-forward and number eight positions in the early stages of his career, he is most at ease in a number 10 position and on the left side of the attack.

At the 2025 Gold Cup, Mora made three appearances for El Tri, starting the final victory over the USA and setting up the game-winning goal in the semi-final match against Honduras. He also holds the record of being the youngest-ever debutant for the Mexico national team.