Joselu, a forward for Espanyol and Spain, has joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan with a potential permanent option, the club announced on Monday.
Only Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema scored more LaLiga goals than Joselu, 33, did for Espanyol last season, when they were demoted from Spain’s top division.
He played for Spain in the UEFA Nations League final four, and in their 2-1 semifinal triumph over Italy, he scored the game-winning goal after replacing Italy in the 84th minute.
Madrid have been looking to bring in a striker after Benzema and Mariano Diaz left this month, leaving Vinicius Junior and Rodrgyo as the club’s only senior forwards.
Joselu — whose full name is Jose Luis Mato Sanmartin — first signed for Madrid from Celta Vigo in 2009 and scored a career-high 26 goals for reserve team Real Madrid Castilla in 2011-12.
He made one appearance for the first team, scoring in an 8-1 win over Almeria in May 2011, before moving to Hoffenheim in Germany.
Spells at Eintracht Frankfurt, Hannover 96, Stoke City, Deportivo La Coruna and Newcastle United followed before Joselu re-found his goalscoring form at Alaves, scoring 36 LaLiga goals over three seasons between 2019 and 2022.
A move to Espanyol in July last year saw him find the best form of his career, earning a first Spain call-up at the age of 32 in March, during which he scored twice in three minutes in a 3-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Norway.