With his departure from Madrid, Toni Kroos has left a significant void in midfield. A 16-year-old Swede is expected to fill the gap and become the next big figure for Los Blancos.
With Toni Kroos’s departure, a large gap has opened up in Real Madrid’s midfield. To fill this long-term, the Madrid team has signed a promising talent from the youth academy of UD Las Palmas.
Leon Westin will join Los Blancos in the summer. Despite his young age, the Swede has already attracted attention.
The 16-year-old stands out not only for his strong technique and game intelligence, but also scores with a variable player profile. Westin was used this season not only in his usual role in midfield, but also as a central defender and even as a striker.
“Soul of a playmaker”
In Spain, people are already talking about the “new Toni Kroos.” The Spanish newspaper as raves about Westin’s “extraordinary feel for the ball, tactical sense and remarkable versatility.”
The Swede is a midfielder “with a touch of box-to-box and the soul of a playmaker. He impresses with his good ball control and his dominant physique,” as analyzed further.
Westin has Swedish citizenship and is currently part of the Swedish U16 national team, where he has made two appearances so far. His height of 1.85 meters already gives him a physical advantage in his young years.
Real Madrid in Transition
After a disastrous 2024/25 season, Real Madrid is undergoing a transition. Following Carlo Ancelotti’s departure, Xabi Alonso is expected to bring new momentum to the team. But changes are also imminent in the Madrid squad.
Veterans like Dani Carvajal should gradually make way for the next generation of superstars. With Trent Alexander-Arnold from FC Liverpool, Real has probably already found Carvajal’s successor in the right-back position. The departure of Lucas Vazquez and Luka Modric is certain.
According to Spanish media reports, other teams from Spain, Sweden and Italy were also interested in Westin. Ultimately, however, Real secured the services of the midfield jewel.
The Swede can be seen as an investment for future success. In the long term, he should follow in the footsteps of Kroos or Modric and represent the face of Madrid’s future.