La Liga: Real Madrid confirms signing Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid has completed the signing of England midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund on a six-year deal.

The English teenage midfielder was signed for a fee of €103 million (£88m) that could potentially rise to €133.9m (c. £114m) with add-ons. The initial fee means Bellingham is now the second-most expensive English footballer after Jack Grealish, for whom Manchester City paid Aston Villa £100m in 2021.

Bellingham is also Real Madrid’s second-most expensive signing, after Eden Hazard’s 115m euro move from Chelsea in 2019. He is also the third-most expensive teenager in history.

The Spanish club said in a statement;

“Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund have agreed on the transfer of the player Jude Bellingham, who will remain linked to our club for the next six seasons.”

The La Liga side failed to retain either the Champions League or domestic league trophy this season under Carlo Ancelotti, and have moved swiftly to recruit the player that was widely regarded as their priority target for the summer transfer window.

Jude Bellingham who is leaving Dortmund after a season he was named the Bundesliga Player of the Year, will be presented a Real Madrid player on Thursday, June 15, at 11am.

In a farewell statement on the Dortmund website, he said;

“Thank you to everyone at BVB and to the fans for everything over the past three years. It’s been an honour 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 Borussia always Borussia. All the best for the future.”

Bellingham moved to Borussia Dortmund from English second-tier boyhood club Birmingham City in 2020. During his time with the German team, Bellingham became a key player in his 132 appearances, scoring 24 goals and providing 25 assists.

He has been included in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, but will not feature in the games.