Real Madrid have officially announced the signing of Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer, following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
The French captain, 25, who holds the record as PSG’s top scorer with 256 goals in 308 matches, has inked a five-year deal with the Spanish giants.
Mbappe’s contract at the Bernabeu is valued at €15 million, £12.8 million, annually after tax.
Additionally, he will receive a substantial signing-on bonus exceeding £85 million, distributed in instalments over the length of his contract.
This signing comes just two days after Carlo Ancelotti’s team celebrated their 15th Champions League victory, securing a historic double by also winning the LaLiga title.
The addition of Mbappe, a 2018 World Cup winner, further bolsters Real Madrid’s formidable squad.
In a terse statement from the European champions announcing Mbappe’s arrival said, “Real Madrid CF and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons.”
Real Madrid have long been admirers of Kylian Mbappe and made an attempt to sign him in 2022. However, the forward opted to extend his stay at PSG with a new two-year deal at the Parc des Princes.
This summer, Mbappe chose not to trigger the one-year extension in his PSG contract, enabling him to move on a free transfer.
This comes six years after PSG acquired him from Monaco for a staggering £166 million.
“There’s a bit of a collective sigh of relief that finally it’s over. They are finally coming together and hopefully it will be a harmonious union between Mbappe and Real Madrid.
“This saga has rumbled on for so long now that every single summer it was all about: ‘Here we go again, is this finally the summer he is going to come?’
“Everybody knew it was inevitable that Mbappe was coming to Real Madrid. It was just a matter of when.
“Real Madrid have been trying for so many years, it even began when he was 11 years old when he went to the club for a trial with the U12s side. He decided not to stay because his parents felt he was better off staying in France to grow and develop.
“In 2017, that was the real first time they came in for him when he was at Monaco. It didn’t work out as PSG came in and hijacked the deal. It’s been on and off again for the last seven years. It really is happening this time.
“But there is also a little bit of apprehension about this deal because it was such a big blow in 2022, when Real really thought he was coming, but he decided to snub them and stay in Paris.
“It left a lot of Madridistas very broken-hearted, disappointed and angry – even people at the club as well.”
“Ultimately it will depend on what Carlo Ancelotti wants to do from a tactical point of view.
“Yes, there is a pecking order of sorts but of course you are going to go with the best players that you have available.
“Let’s work under the premise that Ancelotti is going to stick with a 4-4-2 next season, with Jude Bellingham at the top of the midfield diamond, though really Bellingham can do whatever he wants on the pitch.
“That means Vinicius and Mbappe can start in a two-pronged attack, like what Vinicius and Rodrygo have been doing this season.
“Vinicius has really made the left-hand side his. That is his best position. Rodrygo is more tactically flexible – he can play on the right, left or as a No 10.
“So there are lots of options. He could play 4-3-3, with Mbappe in the middle and Vinicius and Rodrygo on the wings. But that means he would have to sacrifice a midfielder and they are so stacked in that area. I don’t see that happening too often.”
