According to a report by Madrid Universal on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Real Madrid’s 18-year-old summer signing, Fran Santamaria, is making a strong impression at the club’s youth academy, La Fabrica, following an impressive start to his career in Spain.

The young striker joined the Spanish giants from Castellon last summer and has quickly become one of the leading performers for the Juvenil A side. His goalscoring record has attracted attention, with reports stating that he has already scored nine goals to become the team’s top scorer.

Santamaria is averaging a goal every 66 minutes, showing how quickly he has adapted to his new environment. His contributions have also helped the Juvenil A team maintain strong positions in both their domestic competition and the UEFA Youth League.

The teenager has been particularly productive in recent weeks, scoring two goals in consecutive matches against Merida and Toledo. He also made an immediate impression on his debut for the team, finding the net just 19 minutes after coming on before going on to complete a brace.

His performances have not been limited to domestic matches. Santamaria has also scored against Inter Milan in the UEFA Youth League and found the net against Santiago Wanderers in the final of the U-20 Intercontinental Cup, helping Real Madrid win the competition.

Interestingly, the youngster did not begin his career as a centre-forward. He initially played as a winger, but injuries to two teammates at Castellon led his former coach to move him into a central attacking position. The change appears to have worked well, as he has developed into a player who regularly finds the back of the net.

Standing at 1.85 metres, Santamaria has the physical build of a centre-forward. He is also comfortable using both feet and has shown good movement when looking for scoring opportunities inside the penalty area.

Real Madrid identified his potential before completing the transfer, making him Castellon’s most expensive academy departure. However, the club are expected to remain patient with his development.

Despite his impressive record at youth level, Santamaria still has areas of his game to improve before he can be considered for the senior team. His physical strength, tactical understanding and overall development will be important as he continues his progress.

For now, Real Madrid will want him to maintain his form and gain more experience with the academy before taking the next step towards first-team football.