Dani Carvajal has joined Getafe on a free transfer despite the deal facing various financial issues.The right-back was available as a free agent having left Real Madrid in May after a trophy-laden 13-year stint with the club.Carvajal was getting increasingly agitated at being left on the bench at the BernabeuGettyThe 34-year-old’s arrival at Getafe has been heavily speculated, with the club’s president Angel Torres confirming the club were working on a deal.The Spain international has signed a one-year deal and also agreed to a significant wage cut to ensure himself and his family don’t have to relocate away from Madrid.Getafe have hailed the defender as the most significant signing in their history.A statement read: “From Getafe CF, we want to welcome Dani Carvajal and wish him much success in this new stage. Welcome to the Coliseum, Dani!”They added: “Getafe CF has reached an agreement with Dani Carvajal, who will be linked to the club until June 30, 2027. An international player on 51 occasions with the Spanish national team and with a long career in elite football, Carvajal faces a new stage in his sporting career in the south of Madrid.View Tweet: https://t.co/bokQhzcjjC“Throughout his career, Dani Carvajal has a record of 29 titles with the Real Madrid first team and the Spanish national team, including 6 UEFA Champions League titles and the 2024 European Championship with Spain.“The Spanish right-back begins a new stage in the Azulones team, where he will contribute experience and leadership.”Salary cap complicationsA direct phone call from manager Jose Bordalas proved pivotal in convincing Carvajal to join, with the coach planning to start him at right-back or as a right-sided centre-back in a three-man defence.The deal almost didn’t happen, despite the player passing his medical.This was due to LaLiga’s salary cap rules.Carvajal was also linked with a move to the Premier League to help his former teammate Alvaro ArbeloaGettyThe league’s independent committee determines a player’s minimum acceptable wage based on factors such as age, career history, previous earnings and market value.Reportedly, the Spanish top flight valued the Los Blancos legend at around £2.2million; however, Getafe originally struggled to match it, yet eventually managed to meet the Financial Fair Play criteria.According to Spanish outlet Marca, the 34-year-old has asked for a special transfer request in his contract.It apparently dictates that the defender can leave Getafe in January if another club submits an offer. After visiting the training ground on Tuesday, Carvajal confirmed his happiness, and said: “I’m really looking forward to getting to work.”End of an eraThe club captain announced his departure from Los Blancos in May after he decided not to renew his deal.Carvajal tasted huge success in European football at Madrid as he won 26 trophiesGettyHe has suffered with injury issues in recent years, including a major knee problem which naturally impacted his playing timeAdditionally, the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer ultimately limited him to only 892 minutes in LaLiga in the 2025/26 campaign.Florentino Perez said: “Dani Carvajal is a legend and a symbol of Real Madrid and its academy.“Carvajal has always exemplified the values of Real Madrid. This is and will always be his home.”Under managers such as Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, he became fundamental to Madrid’s tactical structure, providing width, supporting midfield build-up play, and helping the team transition between defence and attack.Also, he delivered important moments like his performance in the 2024 Champions League final, where he scored and was named man of the match.