Kiko Casilla to Real Madrid: Latest Transfer Details, Reaction and More

Real Madrid have confirmed the transfer of goalkeeper Kiko Casilla from Espanyol in a club statement on their official website.

Iker Casillas' departure for Porto left Los Blancos with only Keylor Navas as a senior goalkeeper, but the 28-year-old Casilla has now joined the Bernabeu outfit to operate under boss Rafa Benitez.

Espanyol president Joan Collet revealed the final fee, per AS: "We have reached an agreement with Real Madrid of €6 million for Kiko Casilla."

Madrid's new signing expressed his delight at the move, via AS:

Casilla will play as a back-up to Navas for Real, but there is still the potential that David De Gea may move to the Bernabeu from Manchester United this summer, per the MailOnline's Pete Jenson.

If De Gea does indeed move to Real, Navas will depart, but Casilla will remain in the No. 2 role, per Jenson. 

However, Spanish football writer Nicholas Rigg believes Casilla's arrival suggests Real will hold off on signing De Gea:

Spain international Casilla appeared 37 times for Espanyol last season and looks to be a consistently improving presence in between the posts, per OptaJose:

Casillas' departure from the Bernabeu is the end of an era at Real, and a new goalkeeper needs to establish himself as the undisputed No. 1 in Madrid.

The most likely candidate for the role in the long term is Casilla's compatriot De Gea. But Casilla himself looks to be a worthy deputy, and with Real set to compete across numerous competitions next season, he should get a decent amount of game time.