Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has asked for two center back signings from Florentino Perez since the start of the summer transfer window, and while he got one right off the bat in Ibrahima Konate out of free agency, Mou is still waiting for that second starting caliber central defender to join his group.
It is not going to get any easier, too, because Real Madrid are running out of squad space. They may need to sell in order to sign Rodri after bringing in Yan Diomande on the wings and then Carlos Espi at striker to replace Gonzalo Garcia immediately. Eduardo Camavinga is still on the chopping block to bring Rodri in the midfield, but he is pushing to stay. Likewise, the player Real would have to get rid of at the center back position, Raul Asencio, is uninterested in leaving, too, which makes life difficult for Mourinho.
Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger are good center backs, but they are not starting material for Real Madrid; Huijsen still needs development while Rudiger is on the last legs of his career. Eder Militao is phenomenal but prone to injury.
Here are three central defenders Real Madrid can sign to replace Huijsen and Rudiger in the starting lineup this season.
Aymeric Laporte, Athletic Club
Even though he is 32 years old, Aymeric Laporte still makes a lot of sense for Real Madrid and proved as a started for Spain during the 2026 World Cup that he remains a world class player. Laporte is one of the best central defenders in Europe on the ball, and he proved last season, too, that he can still do it in La Liga after spending time with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League at Al Nassr.
Last season, Laporte started 24 games for Athletic Club, barely getting dribbled past with his no nonsense defense while averaging more than two combined tackles and interceptions per game. The veteran Spanish international was even better at the World Cup with a pass completion percentage of 94, two interceptions per game, and just one dribble allowed in the entire tournament through eight games.
As evidenced by the fact that Dean Huijsen didn't even make the Spain World Cup squad, Laporte is definitely the better player and would be an affordable signing for the Royal Whites, even if Athletic Club can be tough to negotiate with,
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