Real Madrid Set to Activate Buy-Back Clause for Como Defender Jacobo Ramon for Less Than Nine Million Euros

Real Madrid are set to bring academy graduate Jacobo Ramon back to the club next summer by activating the buy-back clause for Jacobo Ramon in his Como contract. The fee will come in under nine million euros, according to transfer market expert Matteo Moretto, cited by the Sport newspaper. The move is described as the first deal of next season already done, and it responds to a demand from head coach Jose Mourinho for reinforcements at the heart of the defence and in midfield. Real Madrid officials had reckoned that the signing of Ibrahima Konate was enough to give the back line a serious boost, but work has now started on the next defensive addition. Ramon, still only 21, has produced impressive performances in Italy under Cesc Fabregas, and Real Madrid have watched his progress closely since he left the club. The return may be sealed, but that does not guarantee he stays at Real Madrid once the window closes, because a decision awaits on whether to hand him a first team role or cash in and profit from the deal. The Jacobo Ramon Real Madrid buy-back clause story covers the fee, the Como development, and the decision on the next step.

Jacobo Ramon Real Madrid buy-back clause: From La Fabrica to Como and a rapid rise in value

Ramon came through the Real Madrid academy, known as La Fabrica, and he knows what the Real Madrid shirt means. He played six matches for Real Madrid and scored the goal that gave the club a hard fought last gasp win over Real Mallorca in the 2024-2025 season. Como paid just 2.5 million euros to land Ramon in July 2025, and his value has not stopped climbing since. The current figures published by Transfermarkt put his value at 45 million euros, a figure that shows how far his stock has risen in a short period. At Como, Ramon has racked up 49 appearances and shown he offers more than defensive quality, chipping in with five goals. The numbers explain why Real Madrid inserted a buy-back clause when he left, and why the club now sees value in activating it. A fee under nine million euros for a 21 year old defender with 49 appearances in a top European league and a market value far above the fee represents a strong piece of business on paper. The challenge for Real Madrid will be to turn that paper value into a clear plan, either as a first team player or as a sale that funds other moves.

Why Mourinho wants another defender

Mourinho has asked for reinforcements at the heart of the defence and in midfield, and the Ramon move is the first response to that request. Real Madrid have started the season with a strong defensive record in LaLiga, but the demands of a long season across LaLiga and the Champions League test the depth of any squad. Injuries, suspensions and fatigue can quickly turn a strong back line into a stretched one, and Mourinho wants options that allow rotation without a drop in quality. The signing of Konate gave the back line a serious boost, yet the coach still wants another central defender who can compete for a place and learn the demands of the club. Ramon fits that profile because he already knows the club, the city and the expectations that come with playing for Real Madrid. He also fits the age profile that Real Madrid have favoured in recent transfer windows, with young players signed for long term value rather than short term fixes. The buy-back route adds another advantage, because the fee is fixed below the open market value, and the club avoids a bidding contest with other European clubs.

The Fabregas factor and the Como development path

Ramon has developed under Cesc Fabregas at Como, and the former Spain midfielder has built a reputation for giving young players clear roles and trust. The Como system has allowed Ramon to play regularly, to face strong opposition in Serie A, and to add goals to his defensive work. Five goals in 49 appearances is a strong return for a defender, and it shows a player comfortable stepping forward for set pieces and attacking phases. Real Madrid have monitored that progress, and the club view is that Ramon has grown beyond the player who left in July 2025. The development path also shows the value of a well planned loan or sale with a buy-back clause. Como gained a talented defender for a modest fee, Ramon gained regular football, and Real Madrid retained control over the future of a player they had developed from a young age. The arrangement worked for all three parties, and the activation of the clause is the logical next step. The only question is whether Ramon returns to compete for a place in Madrid, or whether Real Madrid use the clause to secure an asset that can be sold for a profit in the same window.

Keep or sell: the decision that will define the deal

A decision awaits Real Madrid once the buy-back is activated. The club can back Ramon and hand him a first team role, or cash in and profit from the deal. The first option gives Mourinho a young defender who knows the club and has proven himself in Italy, and it adds depth without a large transfer fee. The second option gives the club a financial return that could fund a different signing, and it reflects the reality that Real Madrid already have strong competition in central defence. The value gap between a fee under nine million euros and a market value of 45 million euros makes the second option tempting, but market value is not the same as a confirmed sale price, and Real Madrid will need a buyer willing to pay a large fee. The club may also choose a middle path, with Ramon returning for pre-season, being assessed by Mourinho and the coaching staff, and then a decision taken based on performances in training and early matches. That approach would give the player a fair chance to earn a place, while keeping the financial option open if the competition for places proves too strong. For Ramon, the key point is that Real Madrid want him back, and that interest confirms his progress at Como.

What the Ramon deal means for the Real Madrid rebuild

The Ramon deal is part of a wider rebuild under Mourinho, with Real Madrid looking to blend proven stars with young talent from the academy and from smart market moves. The current Real Madrid squad includes Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Arda Guler, alongside experienced defenders and new signings such as Konate. Ramon would add youth, familiarity and depth to that mix, and his return would send a clear message to academy players that a path back to the first team exists even after a move away. The deal also shows that Real Madrid are planning early for next season, with the first signing already in place before the winter window has even opened. Early planning gives Mourinho time to assess the squad, identify gaps, and build a pre-season plan around the players who will be available. For supporters, the Ramon story is a reminder that transfer business does not always mean a large fee or a famous name. Sometimes the smartest deal is the one that brings back a player the club already knows, at a fee the club already fixed, after a season of growth elsewhere.

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