Real Madrid announced on Wednesday that they had concluded the transfer of English midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.
Bellingham, 19, has signed a six-year contract with the Bernabeu and will be officially introduced to the media on Thursday.
Dortmund announced earlier this month that the La Liga giants had agreed to a €103 million deal to acquire the teenager.
“Thank you to everyone at BVB and to the fans for everything over the past three years,” said Bellingham in a statement. “It’s been a privilege to don your jersey so often, in both big and small moments.
“Although I anticipate my next destination, I will never forget the journey to get there. When born a Borusse, one remains a Borusse for life. Best wishes for the future. Hey BVB!
Carlo Ancelotti’s side defeated Manchester City and Liverpool to sign Bellingham, one of the most exciting prospects in European soccer.
During his three years in Germany, Bellingham became one of the finest players in the Bundesliga, where he made 31 league appearances, scored eight goals, and captained his team.
“Our club has signed one of the greatest talents in the world, a midfielder from Borussia Dortmund who was voted the best player in the Bundesliga,” Madrid stated in a press release.
In addition, at age 19, he is already a fixture for the English national team.
Bellingham is the third player after Gareth Bale (2013) and Eden Hazard (2019) to be acquired by Real Madrid for a transfer fee of at least €100 million.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he excelled for England, starting all five of their games.
Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, Federico Valverde, and Camavinga are well-established first-team players due to Madrid’s policy of recruiting young players in recent seasons.