Real Madrid announced the signing of French icon Kylian Mbappe on Monday.
Adding one of the world’s top soccer players to their roster has freshened up their Champions League victory.
The club’s website post stated, “Real Madrid CF and Kylian Mbappé have reached an agreement.
He will be a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons.”
According to records, this is the third attempt by Real Madrid to secure Mbappe.
The club initially tried to absorb him in 2017. During the period, Mbappe moved from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain for a transfer fee of €180 million ($196 million), the second highest ever for a soccer player.
Also, in 2022, Mbappe almost joined Madrid before opting to re-sign with PSG.
According to the BBC and ESPN, Mbappe’s five-year contract is valued at €15 million ($16.4 million) annually after taxes.
The agreement includes additional incentives based on individual and team performance and accolades.
Furthermore, the superstar will also receive a €150 million ($164 million) signing bonus, distributed throughout the contract.
Mbappe’s contract with PSG cut across through the 2023-24 season with an option for 2024-25.
However, he can move to Real Madrid on a free transfer without exercising this option.
Saudi Arabian Club Al-Hilal Offered Mbappe a Lucrative Salary, but He Declined.
Mbappe will take a pay cut to join Madrid, having previously earned approximately $100 million annually pre-tax at PSG, including bonuses.
Last summer, Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal offered PSG €300 million ($327 million) for Mbappe.
Also, they proposed a lucrative salary for the superstar. However, Mbappe declined the offer while keeping a move to Madrid in his sights.
During his seven seasons with PSG in Ligue 1, Mbappe helped the club secure first place each year.
Also, he led the league in goals for six years and earned the Player of the Year award five times.
Moreover, he played an essential France national team, which won the World Cup in 2018 and received the Young Player award.
In the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe won the Golden Boot as the top scorer, leading France to the final, though they lost on penalties to Argentina.
PSG signed Lionel Messi and Neymar to secure their first Champions League title. So, the trio’s result was a finals appearance in 2020.
On Saturday, Real Madrid clinched its 15th Champions League title, significantly more than AC Milan, the second with seven titles.
Madrid is second in Sportico’s list of the world’s most valuable soccer clubs, with a value of $6.06 billion, and PSG is seventh, with a value of $4.05 billion.
