Real Madrid has officially announced the signing of Kylian Mbappe, the talented forward from France. The 25-year-old has joined the LaLiga club as a free agent, securing a five-year contract. This move marks the end of a long-standing transfer saga, as the European champions have finally acquired their newest "Galactico".
In a statement, Real Madrid stated, "Real Madrid C. F. and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement, ensuring that he will be a part of the Real Madrid family for the next five seasons." This announcement comes shortly after their remarkable 15th European Cup triumph.
Having previously captained the French national team, Mbappe made his intentions clear in a video posted on social media platform X on May 10, where he announced his departure from Paris St Germain. Although his PSG contract expires on June 30, Mbappe will officially join Real Madrid in July. However, before joining the France squad for the European Championship in Germany, he will be unveiled as a Real Madrid player.
Mbappe will now be a part of a star-studded side in Madrid, alongside exceptional talents like Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, who are both Ballon d'Or favorites. The team will be led by the highly successful Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, who holds the record for the most Champions League titles won with five.
Despite achieving numerous domestic successes, including multiple domestic doubles and trebles, Kylian Mbappe has yet to secure the prestigious Champions League title, which remains the sole major accolade missing from his illustrious career.
After a fruitful seven-year stint at PSG, Mbappe departs the club with an impressive record of six Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, and the distinction of being the club's all-time leading scorer with an astounding 256 goals.
In a surprising turn of events, the 2018 World Cup winner informed PSG last year that he would not be exercising the option for a one-year contract extension, which is set to expire in June. This decision led to a tense standoff between Mbappe and the club, resulting in his temporary exclusion from the first-team squad before eventually being reinstated.
By allowing Mbappe to enter the final year of his contract without an extension, PSG relinquished the opportunity to recoup any portion of the substantial €180 million ($195.95 million) transfer fee they paid in 2017 to secure his services from AS Monaco.
After successfully completing the transfer, Mbappe emerged as the second-most expensive player in history, following his former PSG teammate Neymar, who was acquired for 222 million euros from Barcelona in 2017.
Real Madrid had previously pursued Mbappe but were unsuccessful in securing his services. The player, however, opted to extend his contract with PSG in May 2022, despite the Spanish club's rejected bid.
Now that Mbappe is finally part of their squad, Real Madrid can focus on solidifying their dominance in LaLiga. Last season, they only suffered one defeat and clinched the title with a comfortable 10-point lead. Additionally, they remained unbeaten in the Champions League.
