NEW DELHI: Real Madrid have announced the signing of France forward Kylian Mbappe on a five-year contract as a free agent, bringing an end to a transfer saga that lasted for years. The move sees the European champions secure their newest Galactico, adding a formidable talent to their squad.
Real Madrid C. F. and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons, the Spanish champions said in a statement, fresh off their 15th European Cup triumph.
The 25-year-old captain of the French national team had announced he was leaving Paris St Germain in a video posted on social media platform X on May 10.
Mbappe will officially join Real Madrid in July after his PSG contract expires on June 30. However, before joining the club, he will be unveiled as a Real Madrid player, and then he will join up with the France squad for the European Championship in Germany.
Mbappe joins a star-studded side in Madrid, featuring Ballon d’Or favorites Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, under the management of Italian Carlo Ancelotti, the most successful coach in Champions League history with five titles.
Despite winning numerous trophies at PSG, including domestic doubles and trebles, Mbappe has yet to clinch the Champions League, the only major honor missing from his impressive resume.
After seven years at PSG, during which he won six Ligue 1 titles and four French Cups, Mbappe leaves the club as their all-time top scorer with 256 goals.
Mbappe surprised PSG last year when he informed them he would not take up the option of a one-year contract extension, leading to a standoff with the club before eventually being reinstated to the first-team squad.
By allowing Mbappe to run down the final year of his contract, PSG was unable to recoup any of the 180 million euro ($195.95 million) transfer fee they paid in 2017 to sign him from AS Monaco.
Mbappe became the second-most expensive player of all time after his former PSG teammate Neymar, who was signed for 222 million euros from Barcelona in 2017.
Real Madrid had previously attempted to sign Mbappe but failed to do so, with Mbappe opting to sign a contract extension with PSG in May 2022 after Real Madrid’s bid was rejected.
With Mbappe finally joining their ranks, Real Madrid aims to consolidate their dominance in LaLiga, having won the title by 10 points last season with only one loss, and remaining unbeaten in the Champions League.
