The signing of England midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund has been completed by Real Madrid, as confirmed by the club on Wednesday.
At the age of 19, Bellingham has signed a six-year contract at the Bernabeu and is set to meet the media during his official unveiling on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Dortmund officially announced that the LaLiga powerhouse had reached an initial agreement of €103 million to secure the signing of the teenager.
“Thank you to everyone at BVB and to the fans for everything over the past three years,” Bellingham expressed. “It’s been an honor to wear your jersey so many times, in big and small moments.
“Even though I look forward to my next destination, I will never forget the journey there. Once a Borusse, always a Borusse. All the best for the future. Hey BVB!”
Carlo Ancelotti’s team emerged victorious in the race for Bellingham’s signature, overcoming competition from Manchester City and, previously, Liverpool, to secure the services of one of the most promising talents in European football.
Throughout his three-year tenure in Germany, Bellingham established himself as one of the Bundesliga‘s finest athletes, amassing 31 league appearances and netting eight goals this season. Notably, he even assumed the captaincy role for the team.
“Our club have signed one of the greatest talents in the world, a midfielder who comes from Borussia Dortmund and arrives at Madrid after being voted the best player in the Bundesliga,” Madrid stated.
“Moreover, at only 19 years of age, he is already a starter in the English national team.”
Bellingham becomes the third player to join Madrid for a fee exceeding €100m, following the signings of Gareth Bale (2013) and Eden Hazard (2019).
He showcased his brilliance for England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, earning a spot in the starting lineup for all five of their matches.
In recent years, Madrid has adopted a strategy of recruiting emerging talents, and they have successfully integrated players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, Federico Valverde, and Camavinga into their first-team setup as key contributors.
