Official | Kylian Mbappé signs for Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé (25) has officially signed for Real Madrid, the Champions League-winning club announced this Monday evening. This marks the end of the La Liga giants’ quest to sign the most sought-after striker in the world. Real Madrid have tried for years to lure the France captain to the Santiago-Bernabeu. They failed in 2017, on the back of Mbappé’s breakthrough season at AS Monaco, in 2021, when PSG refused the €200m bid Real Madrid submitted and in 2022, when PSG convinced the Paris-born prodigy to sign a two-year contract extension.

It became obvious Kylian Mbappé would leave the French capital in 2024 when it was revealed he would not trigger his one-year extension nor sign a contract renewal, prompting widespread tension between Mbappé and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Real Madrid were in a position to swoop in and sign him without spending a penny to their Ligue 1 counterparts. When he announced he would be leaving PSG, Mbappé ominously omitted to acknowledge Al-Khelaifi.

Finally, Real Madrid have got their man, fulfilling Mbappé’s dream move. Twelve years ago, Kylian Mbappé was trialed as a 14-year-old for the club’s youth teams. Now, he is a Real Madrid after signing a five-year contract, tying him with Los Merengues until 2029. He is set to reunite with Real Madrid’s French contingent that includes left-back Ferland Mendy (28) as well as midfielders Eduardo Camavinga (21) and Aurélien Tchouaméni (24). The Champions League-winning trio are set to report to Didier Deschamps’ France set-up on Wednesday after being given extra rest days.

According to L’Equipe, Kylian Mbappé won’t be unveiled as a Real Madrid player until France’s involvement in the Euros is over, with Mbappé said to exclusively devote himself to the national team he captains. The now-former PSG striker is set to inherit Real Madrid’s No. 9 jersey which was left vacant since Karim Benzema’s departure in 2022.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval