Levante had known for some time that Carlos Espí would move on this window, but Real Madrid's late entry accelerated a replacement plan the sporting department had already been working on across Europe.
With the Espí deal now all but done, Yanis Musuayi, the young Club Brugge striker, is set to become a Levante player for a fee reported by the club not to exceed €3m, according to Marca — though other reports in Belgium and Spain have put the figure closer to €4m.
Real Madrid confirmed the transfer of Espí, 21, on Thursday, with the forward signing for five seasons until 30 June 2031. Born in Tavernes de la Valldigna, the striker made 66 appearances and scored 20 goals across three seasons in Levante's first team, having come through the club's academy after joining from Alzira, and was named LaLiga's best under-23 player last season.
He is also a Spain youth international at both under-19 and under-20 level. Levante had been closing in on a move to Hull City for Espí before Real Madrid's interest emerged and reshaped the negotiation within days. Reports on the fee have varied, with some outlets citing a release clause in the region of €25m and others converting the figure to dollars; Levante has not confirmed the exact amount publicly.
Pepe Danvila's club has taken in €25m for a player produced by its own academy, in what the club is calling the most significant sale of a homegrown player in its history. The funds offer some relief to a club whose debt, as Marca previously reported, is currently being renegotiated by the owner with a view to buying it out.
Despite the financial constraints, the arrival of Musuayi represents a genuine bet on potential. The Belgian, born in June 2007, has yet to make his first-team debut at Brugge, but he has shown considerable promise both in the Belgian club's youth ranks and in the UEFA Youth League, where he helped his side reach the final — a match Brugge lost to Real Madrid.
With Espí's exit now finalised, Levante continue searching for further reinforcements as they look to give head coach Luis Castro the strongest possible squad and avoid the struggles of last season's fight to stay in the top flight.