Hailing from Leganés, Spain, Daniel Carvajal Ramos is a professional footballer renowned for his contributions to both Real Madrid in La Liga and the Spanish national team. Born on January 11, 1992, Carvajal proudly wears the No. 2 jersey for Real Madrid.
Full Name – Daniel Carvajal Ramos | |
Date of birth – 11 January 1992 (age 32) | |
Place of birth – Leganés, Spain | |
Nationality – Spanish | |
Height – 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | |
Weight – 73,5 kg | |
Position – Right-back | |
Current team – Real Madrid | |
Number – 2 |
Club Career
Real Madrid’s Reserve Team
Carvajal began his journey in Real Madrid’s youth setup at the age of 10. Over the years, he steadily progressed through the ranks, eventually earning a spot in Real Madrid Castilla in 2010.
In his debut senior season, Carvajal swiftly secured a place in the starting lineup for the reserve team, even taking on the role of captain.
His leadership and performance were evident as he contributed significantly, featuring in 38 matches and scoring two goals, including playoff appearances.
This stellar performance played a key role in Real Madrid Castilla’s return to Segunda División after a five-year absence.
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Bayer Leverkusen
On July 11, 2012, following a stint without any appearances for Real Madrid’s first team, Carvajal inked a five-year deal with Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany, for a transfer sum of €5 million.
The agreement included a buy-back option for Real Madrid, set at €6.5 million after one season, €7 million after two seasons, and approximately €8.5 million after three seasons.
Carvajal made his debut in the Bundesliga on September 1, 2012, during a 2–0 victory over SC Freiburg at home, earning a spot on the Team of the Week following his performance.
He marked his first goal for Bayer Leverkusen on November 25, scoring the second goal in a 2–1 triumph against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
At the conclusion of his inaugural and sole season, Carvajal was recognized as one of the top three right-backs, trailing behind Phillip Lahm of FC Bayern Munich and Atsuto Uchida of FC Schalke 04. He garnered 16% of the overall fan vote.
Real Madrid Return
In June 2013, Real Madrid exercised their buy-back option on Carvajal for around €6.5 million, with Bayer’s director confirming the move due to Carvajal’s exceptional performances. Carvajal expressed his joy at returning to the club during a press conference.
Carvajal debuted in La Liga on August 18, 2013, and later played his first UEFA Champions League match, contributing to a 6–1 victory over Galatasaray SK.
Throughout his debut season, he appeared in 45 matches, scoring twice in league games and playing a crucial role in the Champions League final victory over Atlético Madrid.
He continued to excel, winning titles like the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. In 2015, Carvajal extended his contract until 2020, contributing significantly to Real Madrid’s Champions League success that year.
Despite facing injuries, Carvajal remained a key player, notably scoring in the UEFA Super Cup clash against Sevilla in 2016. He continued to contribute to Real Madrid’s victories in subsequent seasons, including their La Liga win in 2019-2020.
On July 29, 2021, Carvajal further committed to Real Madrid by extending his contract until June 2025.
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International Career Highlights
Carvajal played as a backup in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, helping Spain win the tournament.
Despite being initially named in the provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he missed warm-up matches due to the Champions League final and was later left out of the final squad.
In 2014, Carvajal made his debut for the senior national team against France. He was part of Spain’s squad for UEFA Euro 2016 but couldn’t play due to injury.
Carvajal represented Spain in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, making his tournament debut against Iran. In 2023, he played a significant role in Spain’s UEFA Nations League Finals victory, scoring the winning penalty in the final against Croatia.
Achievements
Real Madrid Castilla:
- Winner of Segunda División B: 2011–12
Real Madrid:
- La Liga titles: 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22
- Copa del Rey titles: 2013–14, 2022–23
- Supercopa de España titles: 2017, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24
- UEFA Champions League titles: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22
- UEFA Super Cup titles: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
- FIFA Club World Cup titles: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022
Spain U19:
- Winner of UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2011
Spain U21:
- Winner of UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2013
Spain:
- Winner of UEFA Nations League: 2022–23
Individual:
- Named in UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2011
- Selected in UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2013–14, 2016–17
- Included in UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2016–17
FAQs about Dani Carvajal
Is Dani Carvajal married?
Yes, he is married to Daphne Cañizares.
How long has Dani Carvajal played for Real Madrid?
He has been playing for Real Madrid since 2013 to the present.