EXCLUSIVE: Premier League Sides Close in On Spanish Starlet
Carlos Espi Premier League Bound as Spanish Stint Comes to a Close
Football Park exclusively understands that Levante striker Carlos Espi is on the brink of becoming a Premier League player, with as many as five English top flight outfits keen on signing the prolific 21-year-old.
Leeds United have been publicly monitoring the Spaniard in the last 24 hours, while further back, Bournemouth and Aston Villa had shown interest in the striker. There were also rumours that Strasbourg had enquired about the youngster back in May, indicating that sister club Chelsea are also chasing the forwards signature.
Reports say that Leeds United have agreed personal terms with the striker, with club to club talks surrounding a fee the only barrier in the way of negotiation, while other rumours indicate that it is Aston Villa who lead the race for the goalscorer.
๐จ๐ข | EXCLUSIVE: Five Premier League clubs are battling to SIGN Levante striker Carlos Espi this summer! ๐๐ช๐ธ
— Football Park (@thefootballpark) July 28, 2026
Leeds United are the latest side to show interest, joining Aston Villa, Bournemouth, and Chelsea in the race for Espiโs signature. โ๏ธ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/IMi7UYzyCC
Espi reportedly has a โฌ25 million (ยฃ21.4 million) release clause in his contract at Levante, a sum which, while out of reach for the less illustrious sides, would be considered good value for sides in the race for European qualification.
Spanish Sensation
One of the Spanish La Ligaโs breakout talents last season, Espi netted 13 times in 27 league games as Levante secured La Liga survival on the final day of the season, something they would not have managed without his goals.
Initially breaking into the first team the previous season while still in the second tier, Espi played 36 games as they earned promotion, illustrating a rare combination of fitness and consistency for such a young player.
Standing at 194cm, Espi poses as a formidable adversary in the air, with his combined height and significant vertical leap a dangerous weapons for all but the most alert defenders, while his young age and Levanteโs style of play also mean that he is excellent on the counter-attack, showing a great turn of pace and excellent positioning to get into goal-scoring positions quickly.
๐ช๐ธ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐(20) ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐!๐ฅ
— The Stat Guy (@The_Stat_Guy_10) March 22, 2026
Carlos is a 6โ4 Right Footed ST/CF 6 Goals in last 5 Matches Cost:ยฃ20M๐คฏ
Carlos Espi Vs Real Oviedo Last Night๐ฎโ๐จpic.twitter.com/4wE93XKT29
His joint traits of physicality and pace make him an attractive target for Premier League sides, and after such an excellent season at a side fighting relegation last year, there is much excitement at the prospect of what he can do at a more competitive outfit.
Levanteโs reported interest in Union Touarga Sport Tawfik Bentayeb makes the prospect of Espiโs departure even more likely - Bentayeb is a young, cheap replacement who netted 20 tiems in 31 games for French second division side Troyes last season, and while he has a markedly different profile, he replaces Espi in terms of goal output.
Though it is uncertain which Premier League side Espi favours, and indeed who is leading the race, Leeds reportedly agreeing terms with the player are the most advanced rumours so far, and suggest that any move will happen in the coming days.
Louis Wheeldon 
Jake Brown 