Chelsea, United Eye Como Defender Jacobo Ramon
Chelsea and Manchester United are reportedly competing to sign Como centre-back Jacobo Ramon, who has previously been linked to a Real Madrid buy-back clause.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Soccer
Chelsea and Manchester United are competing to sign Como centre-back Jacobo Ramon, a Spain U21 international who came through Real Madrid's La Fábrica academy. Real Madrid are well placed to trigger a £7.7m buy-back clause to re-sign the 6ft 5in defender.
Why it matters
Ramon has played in all ten Serie A games for Como this season and scored in their 4-1 Champions League win over Manchester United last month. His performances have drawn interest from two Premier League clubs.
Ramon averages 6.21 duels won, 3.53 recoveries and 4.49 clearances per Serie A game this season, with a 91.5% pass completion rate and 124 line-breaking passes, according to FotMob. Whether Real Madrid will trigger the £7.7m buy-back clause remains unconfirmed.
The players
Jacobo Ramon
A Spain U21 international centre-back who came through Real Madrid's La Fábrica academy and has become a key figure in Como's defence.
Chelsea
A Premier League club based at Stamford Bridge that is reportedly among the clubs pursuing Ramon.
Manchester United
A Premier League club that is reportedly competing with Chelsea for Ramon, and which Como beat 4-1 in the Champions League last month.
Real Madrid
The Spanish club that developed Ramon through its La Fábrica academy and holds a £7.7m buy-back clause that could allow it to re-sign him.
The details
Chelsea and Manchester United are both pursuing the Como defender, who has played in all ten Serie A games this season. Ramon came through Real Madrid's academy and has been valued at £37m by Transfermarkt.
Timeline
Summer 2025: Ramon moved to Como's Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
Last month: Ramon scored in Como's 4-1 Champions League win over Manchester United.
Coming transfer windows: Manchester United and Chelsea hope to sign Ramon.
Season Trajectory
Ramon's form at Como places him among the emerging centre-backs drawing interest from Europe's biggest clubs, a pattern that follows the buy-back structure Real Madrid has used for academy graduates. The outcome could shape how Como and Real Madrid manage their relationship over the next transfer windows.
Ramon's availability could shift the balance of Como's defence and the transfer plans of Chelsea and Manchester United in the coming windows. Fantasy managers tracking Serie A defenders may want to monitor his duel and recovery numbers.
The takeaway
Ramon's rise from Real Madrid's academy to Como's first-choice defence illustrates how clubs can develop talent that later becomes a transfer target for larger rivals. Readers following the transfer market should watch whether buy-back clauses become a common route for clubs to reclaim academy graduates.
Further reading
For more on transfer activity across European football, see the Soccer section.
