Mbappe joins the Spanish and European champions as a free agent a month after terminating his contract with PSG.
French striker Kylian Mbappe has joined Real Madrid as a free agent on a five-year contract, the LaLiga club have announced, ending a years-long transfer saga.
The signing was confirmed through a statement from Real Madrid on social media on Monday.
“Real Madrid CF and Kylian Mbappé have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons,” said the Spanish and European champions.
Mbappe shared images of himself as a youngster in a Real Madrid uniform, as well as meeting Cristiano Ronaldo on his social media profiles shortly after the club’s statement.
“A dream come true,” he wrote. “I’m very happy and proud to join my dream club @realmadrid.
“No one can understand how excited I am right now. I can’t wait to see you Madridistas and thank you for your unbelievable support. Hello Madrid!”
A really real dream.
Very happy and proud to be part of the club of my dreams @real Madrid It is impossible to explain the happiness and emotion I feel right now. I’m impatient for you, Madridistas, and thanks for your incredible support.
Hala Madrid!– Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 3, 2024
The 25-year-old French national team captain announced he was leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a video posted on social media platform X on May 10.
Mbappé will move to Real Madrid in July after his contract with PSG expires on June 30, but the striker will be introduced before joining the French squad for the European Championships in Germany.
Mbappe joins a star-studded team in Madrid, including Ballon d’Or favorites Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, led by Italian Carlo Ancelotti – the most successful coach in Champions League history, with five titles.
Although Mbappe has won several trophies at PSG, often completing domestic doubles and trebles, the Champions League has eluded him and remains the only major honor left to complete his brilliant CV.
Mbappé leaves PSG after seven years at the club where he won six Ligue 1 titles and four French Cups, ending his career in the capital as the club’s all-time top scorer, with 256 goals.
The 2018 World Cup winner surprised PSG last year by sending a letter stating he would not accept the option of a one-year extension when his contract expired in June.
The letter led to an impasse with the club and Mbappe was omitted from the starting line-up before being reinstated.
Allowing Mbappe to run out the final year of his contract meant PSG were unable to recoup any of the 180 million euro ($196 million) transfer fees they paid in 2017 to sign him from AS Monaco.
When the transfer was completed, Mbappe became the second most expensive player of all time, after his former PSG teammate Neymar.
Real Madrid had courted Mbappe in the past but were unable to sign the player, who signed a contract extension with PSG in May 2022, when the Spanish club had an offer rejected.
With Mbappe finally in their ranks, the club could look to consolidate their dominance in LaLiga, where they lost just once last season to win the title by 10 points and were unbeaten in the Champions League.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
