Ibizan goalkeeper Leo Román is close to joining newly promoted Deportivo de La Coruña, in a deal that will make him the most expensive player ever produced by the island.
The Galician club will pay the €9 million release clause set by RCD Mallorca after their relegation to the second division.
A steady rise
Román, 26, came through the system on Mallorca after joining the club’s reserve team in the summer of 2020. He was promoted to the first-team squad in 2022–23 and then spent a season on loan at Real Oviedo, where he established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the second division, conceding 39 goals in 42 league matches.
Back at Son Moix, he started 33 of Mallorca’s 38 league games last season, and his form earned him a place on Spain’s preliminary 55-man list for the World Cup.
He has already made history for Ibiza. On 4 June he became the first player born on the island to make his senior debut for Spain, in a friendly against Iraq played, by coincidence, at Deportivo’s Riazor stadium.
Deportivo’s ambitions
Deportivo have returned to the top flight with big plans. Backed by their owner, banker Juan Carlos Escotet, the club is investing heavily to avoid an immediate return to the second division, and a goalkeeper with LaLiga experience and international recognition is a statement of intent.
Román is expected to report to the club’s training ground at Abegondo next Monday to begin pre-season under the new coaching staff.
What it means for Mallorca
For Mallorca, the sale is a significant financial boost after relegation, when clubs typically lose a large part of their television income. It also means the club will have to find a new first-choice goalkeeper before the start of the season.
For Ibiza, where professional football has a much lower profile than on Mallorca, Román’s rise is a source of pride and an example for young players on the island.
