Jude Belligum is officially a Real Madrid player. The newcomer will be presented at the Santiago Bernabéu

Author: Soorya G

In what is perhaps one of the deals of the transfer season, Real Madrid have officially completed the signing of English midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old prodigy signed a six-year contract with the Spanish giants in a deal worth 103 million euros, which could rise to 133.9 million euros with additional add-ons related to performance and trophies. Bellingham’s arrival at Real Madrid will be made official at a special presentation ceremony on Thursday, when he will be announced as the club’s newest signing.

Bellingham, who began his career at Birmingham City, came to prominence as one of England’s best players at last year’s World Cup. His exceptional displays caught the attention of soccer enthusiasts around the world and he was subsequently named Bundesliga player of the season while wearing the colors of Dortmund; a team that was deprived of its first Bundesliga title for more than a decade when Mainz beat them on the final day, leading them to lose the title on goal difference.

Bellingham had a brilliant spell at Dortmund, etching his name in the history books by becoming the youngest captain in the club’s history at the age of 19. Throughout the 2022-23 season, his footballing maturity far beyond his years impressed everyone, as he scored a sensational season with 14 goals and seven assists.

The high transfer fee makes Bellingham the second most expensive English footballer, behind Jack Grealish, who Manchester City acquired from Aston Villa for 100 million pounds in 2021. In addition, the signing of Bellingham makes him the second most expensive addition in Real Madrid’s history, surpassed only by the 115 million euro transfer of Eden Hazard from Chelsea in 2019. At just 19 years of age, the talented midfielder has become the third most expensive teenage transfer in soccer history, behind players like Kylian Mbappe and João Felix.

Birmingham City, Bellingham’s boyhood club, are ready to pay a seven-figure sell-on fee as a result of the midfielder’s transfer to Spain. Bellingham was called up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2024 European Championship qualifiers against Malta and Macedonia, but will not be able to take part as he is suffering from an injury that prevented him from playing in Borussia Dortmund’s last league match against Koln. He will travel with the national team and continue his rehabilitation with the Three Lions.