With striker Karim Benzema out the door and several midfielders past their prime, the next wave of talent at Spanish giant Real Madrid is here.
The club announced the signing of 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham on a six-year deal, ending a transfer saga that saw interest from other clubs around Europe, namely Liverpool and Manchester City. The €103 million ($111 million) transfer fee is the second-highest the club has ever paid for a player, behind only the purchase of Eden Hazard in 2019.
The English phenom began his professional career at just 16 years old playing with English second-tier side Birmingham City. A dazzling season as a full-time starter saw him win EFL Young Player of the Season and immediately draw interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. German club Borussia Dortmund paid a reported $32 million, then the highest-ever fee for a 17-year-old.
Bellingham proved his mettle in three years in the Bundesliga. This year, with Dortmund just narrowly losing out on its first league title in over a decade, Bellingham starred, recording eight goals and four assists as he took home league Player of the Year honors. He also became a nailed-on starter for Gareth Southgate’s England squad at the World Cup, starting all five matches for the Three Lions.
His transfer from the Dortmund talent factory has been imminent for some time now. There was speculation that Manchester City would attempt to link him up with former teammate Erling Haaland, but a pursuit from the English champions never came to fruition. Liverpool seemed a likely destination—the Reds desperately needed a midfield refresh. But the club reportedly decided against a transfer due to the massive fee and wages.
Bellingham will join Eduardo Camavinga (20), Aurélien Tchouaméni (23) and Federico Valverde (24) as the youthful pieces of a midfield that includes veterans Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos.
Real Madrid relinquished the La Liga title to Barcelona this year after finishing with 78 points, its lowest total of the last four seasons.
