History of Marc Cucurella in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 18, 2026

Marc Cucurella is a professional Spanish footballer renowned for his versatility, primarily operating as a left-back or left wing-back. A product of Barcelona's La Masia academy, he gained prominence through standout performances at Eibar and Getafe before moving to the Premier League. Following a successful spell at Brighton & Hove Albion, he secured a high-profile transfer to Chelsea in 2022. Known for his distinctive curly hair, high work rate, and technical proficiency, Cucurella is characterized by his tactical intelligence, aggressive defensive pressing, and ability to contribute significantly to attacking transitions. On the international stage, he has been a key member of the Spain national team, playing a vital role in their triumph at UEFA Euro 2024. His career trajectory highlights his evolution from a promising youth prospect into an elite, reliable performer in one of the world's most competitive leagues.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

July 1998: Birth of Marc Cucurella

On July 22, 1998, Marc Cucurella Saseta was born, who would go on to become a professional Spanish footballer playing for Real Madrid and the Spain national team.

Others born on this day/year

2006: Joining Espanyol Youth Teams

In 2006, after playing futsal with FS Alella, Marc Cucurella joined the youth setup at Espanyol.

2012: Transfer to Barcelona Youth Academy

Marc Cucurella transferred to the Barcelona youth academy in 2012 to continue his development as a footballer.

November 2016: Senior Debut with Barcelona Reserves

On November 26, 2016, Marc Cucurella made his professional senior debut for the Barcelona reserve team, starting in a 4-0 victory against L'Hospitalet in the Segunda División B.

July 2017: Contract Renewal with Barcelona

On 7 July 2017, Marc Cucurella extended his contract with his club until 2021, which included a release clause set at €12 million.

March 2018: First Senior Goal for Barcelona B

On 17 March 2018, Cucurella netted his first senior goal for Barcelona B during a match against Lorca, helping his team secure a draw.

August 2018: Loan to Eibar

On 31 August 2018, Marc Cucurella joined the La Liga club Eibar on a one-year loan deal which included a two million euro buyout clause.

2018: Meeting of Marc Cucurella and Claudia Rodríguez

In 2018, Marc Cucurella began a relationship with his partner, Claudia Rodríguez, with whom he has since welcomed three children.

May 2019: First La Liga Goal

On 9 May 2019, Marc Cucurella scored his inaugural goal in the La Liga competition during a match that ended in a 2-2 draw against his parent club.

July 2019: Transfer and Loan Activity

In July 2019, Marc Cucurella experienced a flurry of transfer activity; on 16 July 2019, FC Barcelona exercised a buyback option on the player shortly after he had become a permanent Eibar player, and subsequently, on 18 July 2019, he was loaned to Getafe with an option to buy.

September 2019: Call-up to Spain Under-21 National Team

In September 2019, Marc Cucurella was selected for the Spain under-21 team to participate in qualification matches for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship against Kazakhstan and Montenegro.

September 2019: European competition debut

On 19 September 2019, Marc Cucurella made his official European debut by coming on as a substitute for Kenedy during a 1–0 victory against Trabzonspor in the UEFA Europa League group stage.

November 2020: First Senior Spain Call-up

In November 2020, Marc Cucurella received his first call-up to the senior Spain national football team for UEFA Nations League matches against Switzerland and Germany, serving as a replacement for the injured José Gayà, although he remained an unused substitute during the games.

2020: Olympic Silver Medal

In 2020, Marc Cucurella achieved a significant career milestone by winning the silver medal with the Spain under-23 national team at the Olympic tournament.

2020: Original Olympic Scheduling

In 2020, the Olympic Games were originally scheduled to occur, though they were ultimately postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 2021: International Debut for Spain

On 8 June 2021, Marc Cucurella made his senior international debut for Spain while serving as captain during a friendly match against Lithuania, which resulted in a 4–0 victory for Spain after the under-21 squad was called up due to COVID-19 protocols.

August 2021: Transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion

On 31 August 2021, Marc Cucurella officially signed a five-year contract to join the Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

2021: 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Semi-finalist

During the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Marc Cucurella served as captain for the Spanish squad, ultimately reaching the semi-final stage where they were defeated by Portugal in 2021.

2021: Transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion

In 2021, Marc Cucurella transferred to the Premier League to play for Brighton & Hove Albion, following his previous experience in La Liga.

2021: 2020 Olympic Silver Medal Win

In 2021, Marc Cucurella was a member of the Spain under-23 national team that secured a silver medal at the 2020 Olympic Games, which had been delayed from the previous year because of the global pandemic.

2021: Senior International Debut

Marc Cucurella made his official debut for the Spanish senior national team in 2021, marking his progression from the youth levels to the main squad.

2021: Contract Expiration

The contract renewal signed in 2017 stipulated that Cucurella's agreement with the club would run until 2021.

May 2022: First goal and end of season awards

On 7 May 2022, Cucurella scored his debut goal for Brighton in a 4-0 win against Manchester United. Subsequently, on 10 May 2022, he was honored with the Players' Player of the Season and the Player of the Season awards at the club's end-of-season ceremony.

August 2022: Transfer to Chelsea FC

On 5 August 2022, Marc Cucurella officially signed a six-year contract with Chelsea, moving from Brighton in a deal worth an initial £56 million that set a transfer record for his former club.

2022: Transfer to Chelsea

Following a single season at Brighton, Marc Cucurella completed a transfer to Chelsea in 2022 to continue his professional football career.

March 2023: Player of the Match vs Borussia Dortmund

On 7 March 2023, Cucurella earned the Player of the Match title during a Champions League fixture against Borussia Dortmund, contributing to a 2-0 victory that secured Chelsea's advancement to the quarter-finals.

March 2024: First Goal for Chelsea

On 17 March 2024, Marc Cucurella scored his debut goal for Chelsea, acting as the opening scorer in a 4-2 win against Leicester City during the FA Cup quarter-finals.

June 2024: UEFA Euro 2024 Participation and Success

In June 2024, Marc Cucurella was selected for the Spanish national squad for UEFA Euro 2024. Throughout the tournament, he made his competitive debut against Croatia, was involved in a notable handball controversy during the quarter-final match against Germany, provided the decisive assist for Mikel Oyarzabal's winning goal in the 2-1 victory over England in the final, and was subsequently honored with a selection for the Team of the Tournament.

December 2024: First Premier League Goal and Red Card for Chelsea

On 15 December 2024, Marc Cucurella scored his maiden Premier League goal for Chelsea in a 2-1 win against Brentford. Following the match, he was issued his first career red card due to a post-game altercation with Kevin Schade.

2024: UEFA Euro 2024 Victory

In 2024, Marc Cucurella represented Spain at UEFA Euro 2024, where he successfully helped the national team win the tournament title.

September 2025: First international goal for Spain

On 4 September 2025, Marc Cucurella achieved a career milestone by scoring his first goal for the Spanish national team in a 3-0 victory against Bulgaria during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.

May 2026: Named in 2026 FIFA World Cup squad

On 25 May 2026, Marc Cucurella was officially selected to represent Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.

June 2026: Transfer to Real Madrid

On June 15, 2026, Marc Cucurella officially joined the La Liga club Real Madrid, signing a six-year contract for an initial transfer fee of €55 million, with potential add-ons totaling €5 million.

2026: Signing with Real Madrid

In 2026, Marc Cucurella concluded his time in England and returned to Spain to join the Real Madrid squad.

2026: FIFA World Cup Appearance

Marc Cucurella was selected to represent Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, continuing his career as a key member of the senior national squad.

26 March 2024: Spain senior team cap against Brazil

On 26 March 2024, Marc Cucurella earned his second senior cap for the Spain national football team, completing a full 90-minute performance at left back during a 3–3 friendly draw against Brazil at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

3 March 2020: Getafe exercises purchase option for Marc Cucurella

On 3 March 2020, the football club Getafe officially triggered their option to purchase Marc Cucurella from Barcelona for a fee of €6 million, effectively ending his permanent connection to his former club.