Real Madrid has officially completed the signing of talented English midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. The transfer agreement between the two clubs secures Bellingham's services for the next six years. The deal was finalized for an initial fee of €103 million (£88m), which could potentially rise to €133.9 million (approximately £114 million) with additional add-ons. This substantial sum makes Bellingham the second-most expensive English footballer in history, trailing only Jack Grealish, who commanded a £100 million transfer fee when he moved from Aston Villa to Manchester City in 2021.
The signing of Bellingham marks Real Madrid's second-most expensive acquisition, surpassing their previous record set by Eden Hazard's €115 million transfer from Chelsea in 2019. Additionally, Bellingham becomes the third-most expensive teenager ever signed in the history of football.
Real Madrid announced the successful completion of the transfer in an official statement, stating, "Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund have reached an agreement for the transfer of player Jude Bellingham, who will be associated with our club for the next six seasons."
Following a season in which Real Madrid failed to capture either the Champions League or the domestic league title under manager Carlo Ancelotti, the club moved swiftly to secure Bellingham, who was widely recognized as their top priority target for the summer transfer window.
Jude Bellingham, who was named the Bundesliga Player of the Year during his time at Dortmund, will be presented as a Real Madrid player on Thursday, June 15, at 11 am. The departure from Dortmund marks the end of a memorable chapter for Bellingham, who expressed his gratitude and bid farewell to the club and its fans in a statement on the Dortmund website, saying, "Thank you to everyone at BVB and to the fans for everything over the past three years. It's been an honor to wear your jersey in so many memorable moments. While I eagerly anticipate my next destination, I will never forget the journey that brought me here. Once Borussia, always Borussia. All the best for the future."
Bellingham initially made the move to Borussia Dortmund from his childhood club, Birmingham City, in the English second-tier, in 2020. During his tenure with the German club, the talented midfielder made 132 appearances, contributing 24 goals and 25 assists, firmly establishing himself as a key player.
Although included in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, Bellingham will not participate in these matches due to his recent transfer.
