Real Madrid have announced the signing of Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, bringing an end to a footballing transfer saga that has spanned years.
“Real Madrid CF and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement for which he will be a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons,” read the announcement by the club.
Mbappe took to social media and claimed that the move was “a dream come true” for him.
“So happy and proud to join the club of my dream @realmadrid. Nobody can understand how excited I am right now. Can’t wait to see you, Madridistas, and thanks for your unbelievable support,” Mbappe said.
The Frenchman is expected to $38 million a season, according to reports in Spain.
The news of football’s ‘worst-kept secret’ comes a couple of days after Madrid won their record-extending 15th UEFA Champions League title. Earlier on Monday (Jun 3), Mbappe could be heard talking to French President Emmanuel Macron where he revealed that Madrid would unveil him later in the evening.
Mbappe departs PSG on a free transfer, meaning the French club will lose huge money on a player for whom they rejected over $200 million offer from Madrid in 2021.
Madrid may have waited a few more days to make the announcement but fastracked the process due to France coach Didier Deschamps wanting his captain’s future resolved before the start of the Euros.
However, Mbappe could only be presented as a Real Madrid player at the Santiago Bernabeu in mid-July as France is expected to go the distance in the continental championship.
Mbappe joins Galacticos
Mbappe will be joining a stacked Madrid forward line that currently is being led by Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. With the likes of Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler and Joselu already in place and Endrick yet to come from Palmeiras, Madrid could be set to dominate world football for years to come.
Madrid have already made it clear that Mbappe is their crown jewel as the board rejected France Under 21 manager Thierry Henry’s request to release the player for the Paris Olympics.
“Real Madrid were really straightforward about the Olympics. The last time I received so many rejections was at the university. There have not even been negotiations. You go, you ask, they say no and you leave,” said Henry in a press conference.
Teams in the men’s competition are restricted to players aged 23 and under, but they can name a maximum of three overage players in the squad, which means 25-year-old Mbappe could have been included in the squad.
Content by: Abhinav Singh
