Real Madrid has finalized the acquisition of England midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund on a six-year contract. The Spanish giants have agreed to pay 103 million euros (£88.5 million) for the 19-year-old sensation, with additional potential add-ons that could raise the total value of the deal to 133.9 million euros (£115 million).
Bellingham, who began his football journey at Birmingham City, will be officially presented as a Real Madrid player in a special ceremony scheduled for Thursday. Expressing his gratitude to Dortmund and its fans, Bellingham said, “Thank you to everyone at BVB [Dortmund] and to the fans for everything over the past three years. It’s been an honor 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 a Borusse, always a Borusse. All the best for the future.”
The move to Real Madrid marks a significant milestone in Bellingham’s career. He emerged as one of England’s standout performers at the previous World Cup and was recognized as the Bundesliga’s player of the season, despite Dortmund narrowly missing out on a league title on the final day of the season.
With this transfer, Bellingham becomes the second most expensive English footballer ever, just behind Jack Grealish, whose move to Manchester City from Aston Villa cost £100 million in 2021. Moreover, Bellingham’s signing makes him Real Madrid’s second most expensive acquisition, trailing only Eden Hazard’s 115 million euro transfer from Chelsea in 2019. Additionally, he ranks as the third most expensive teenager in football history.
During his time at Dortmund, Bellingham made a lasting impact. In October of the previous year, he became the youngest captain in the club’s history at the age of 19. Throughout the 2022-2023 season, he showcased his immense talent, appearing in 42 matches, scoring 14 goals, and providing seven assists for his team.
