Kylian Mbappe has joined Real Madrid on a five-year deal, confirming weeks of speculation that he was finally joining the Spanish champions.
“Real Madrid CF and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons,” the club said on Monday evening.
Mbappe posted photos of himself as a youngster wearing the famous white kit, including one alongside Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Nobody can understand how excited I am right now,” said Mbappe – who called the move a “dream come true”.
It’s believed the confirmation was deliberately held until after Saturday’s Champions League final, which Real won 2-0.
The European champions are getting him on a free transfer and Mbappe will get a £85m bonus paid over five years, in addition to his £12.8m post-tax annual salary.
France‘s captain, 25, announced he was leaving hometown side Paris Saint-Germain in May.
He spent seven years there and his 256 goals in 308 matches – including 44 this season – made him the club’s top scorer.
Earlier on Monday, Mbappe told French President Emmanuel Macron – who was visiting the national squad – the transfer was hours away from being confirmed.
The French forward joins Jude Bellingham at the 15-time European champions. Pic: Reuters
Mbappe is widely regarded as one of the world’s best players, but despite his prolific scoring was unable to bring PSG the Champions League title the club’s owners crave.
His chance of European glory should now increase as he joins an already stellar squad including the likes of England’s Jude Bellingham and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior.
Mbappe’s exploits famously include scoring a hat trick in the 2022 World Cup Final, a match Argentina ultimately won on penalties.
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He is also just 11 goals away from equalling Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time top scorer – a mark that could be in danger if he can carry France deep into Euro 2024.
The team start their campaign on 17 June in a group alongside Poland, the Netherlands and Austria.