Oviedo's January clear-out begins as Rondón and Domingues head for the exit
Real Oviedo kickstart their winter transfer window with several departures to make room for new signings, with more exits expected in the coming days.
Real Oviedo have begun their January housekeeping with Venezuelan striker Salomón Rondón and French midfielder Brandon Domingues the first through the exit door as the club looks to free up space for winter reinforcements.
First departures confirmed
The Asturian club officially announced today that Rondón will return to Mexican side Pachuca, from where he arrived on loan last summer, while Domingues heads to Polish outfit Górnik Zabrze on a temporary deal until the end of the season.
Rondón leaves after a disappointing spell where he managed just two goals in 16 appearances (1,038 minutes), though remarkably that still makes him the team’s top scorer this season - a telling stat about Oviedo’s struggles in front of goal. The Venezuelan never truly won over the supporters, and the arrival of new manager Guillermo Almada seems to have accelerated his departure.
Domingues’ exit was equally predictable, having failed to play a single minute in La Liga this season. His only appearance came in the Copa del Rey defeat to Ourense. He’ll be hoping to rediscover the form that made him shine in Hungary before his move to Spain.
More on the way out
The exodus won’t stop there, with Álex Forés and Moldovan also on their bike. Forés has everything agreed with Leganés and is just waiting for the green light from his parent club Villarreal, while Romanian goalkeeper Moldovan is expected to depart in the coming days with Italian clubs circling.
Potential further departures include:
- Kwasi Sibo - Contract expires in 2026, with MLS clubs interested and potential move to Pachuca also being considered
- Luka Ilic - Open to leaving, but Oviedo want to recoup their €2 million investment
- Haissem Hassan - Attracting significant interest from Turkey with Trabzonspor reportedly offering €6 million
Making room for new blood
These departures ensure spots for new signings Nico Fonseca and Thiago Borbas ahead of Oviedo’s first fixture of 2026 against Alavés at Mendizorroza. Fonseca, a midfielder from Club León, and Borbas, a striker from Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil, are just waiting on administrative formalities before joining training.
The club’s transfer operations have shifted from Spain to Mexico, with Grupo Pachuca president Jesús Martínez and his personal advisor Rafael Monge now handling recruitment. Oviedo are still in the market for a defender, two wingers and another striker, provided they can navigate their salary cap restrictions.
It’s all go in Asturias as they look to strengthen their squad for the second half of what’s been a proper struggle of a season so far. As they say in the East End, it’s time for a right old clear-out of the china plates who haven’t delivered the goods.