Madrid, Jun 14 (EFE).- Real Madrid have signed English midfielder Jude Bellingham on a six-year deal, the club said in a statement Wednesday.
The former Borussia Dortmund star will be presented Thursday at 12.00 hours at the Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid and will appear before the media.
Bellingham will not take part in England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and Macedonia because he is still recovering from a knee injury that ruled him out of the conclusion of the German league season.
Dortmund had confirmed Bellingham’s departure on June 7, with Real Madrid paying 103 million euros plus 30% of the transfer in variables.
Bellingham, who will turn 20 later this month, arrived at Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2020 from his home club, Birmingham City.
He has been a key part of the German side from the outset and is already a regular in the national team.
He made his debut in November 2020 against Ireland, aged 17 years and 137 days – the third youngest player to appear for the Three Lions’ senior side – and has already taken part in Euro 2020 and the World Cup in Qatar 2022.
With Borussia Dortmund, he played 132 games, providing 25 assists and scoring 24 goals, a hallmark of Bellingham’s ability in midfield and his goal scoring threat.
His signing is another step in the gradual rejuvenation of the Madrid midfield which for years has relied on aging stars Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, as well as Casemiro, who left for Manchester United last season.
Bellingham is the latest young star to boost Real’s midfield ranks, after Uruguayan Fede Valverde and French duo Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Bellingham will be the sixth English player to wear the Madrid shirt after Laurie Cunningham, Steve McManaman, Jonathan Woodgate, David Beckham and Michael Owen. EFE
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