Jude Bellingham has completed his move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid. The England midfielder has agreed to a six-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, making him the most expensive player in his nation should the agreement reach the £115 million price tag including add-ons. Bellingham will be introduced as a Los Blancos player at a presentation on Thursday morning at 11 am. Real will make an initial £88.5m payment for Bellingham. Bellingham, who turns 20 on June 29 and has played for Dortmund for three seasons, leaves the club after winning the Bundesliga Player of the Year honor in the most recent season.
“Thank you to the fans and to everyone at BVB for the past three years,” Jude Bellingham said after his completing his move to Real Madrid. “It has been a privilege to wear your shirt so many times, on significant and insignificant occasions. Even though I eagerly anticipate reaching my next location, I will always remember the way there. Always Borussia, once Borussia. Best wishes for the future.”
“Jude’s three years of dedication to Borussia Dortmund are appreciated. We had a great time together,” Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said. “We also want to express our gratitude to Real Madrid for the constant fairness and positive conversation.”
Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, spoke on where Bellingham stands as one of the top young midfielders in the world during the World Cup with England. It served as a reminder that Real Madrid is a team with a lot of experience in that position, despite Bellingham being one of the most sought-after midfielders going into this summer’s transfer market.
The other Real midfielders lack Bellingham’s particular brand of play. Due to Real holding the ball longer than Dortmund this season, all of the Real choices had superior passing and chance-creation metrics than Bellingham. Bellingham’s defensive and pressuring statistics outperformed those of any Real midfielder as a result. Bellingham did well in the offensive department despite having less of the ball. The England international demonstrated that he is a stronger offensive option than Ancelotti currently has by completing more take-ons, through passes, and shots than any Real midfielder.
Only time will tell if Bellingham would be valued higher or might be better suited to moving to the Premier League to continue his football career. But the adolescent has demonstrated recently that he is not dependent on his nation of origin to advance his career. Real is one of the grandest clubs around.
The rise of Bellingham
August 2019 – By starting an EFL Cup first-round encounter against Portsmouth at the age of 16 years and 38 days, Bellingham becomes Birmingham’s youngest player in team history. At the end of the month, he gave the team its first league goal.
July 2020 – Bellingham signs a £25 million initial agreement to join Borussia Dortmund, becoming him the most expensive 17-year-old in history.
October 2020 – At the age of 17 years and 113 days, Bellingham made his Champions League debut for Dortmund against Lazio, making him the youngest English player to do so.
November 2020 – Bellingham receives his first call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England team, making his Wembley debut against Ireland at the age of 17 years and 136 days.
May 2021 – Bellingham wins the German Cup, his first professional title, and is also voted the Bundesliga’s Newcomer of the Season after only 29 games.
November 2022 – The midfielder scored England’s first World Cup goal, leading the Three Lions to a 6-2 victory over Iran in Group B.
May 2023 – Bellingham is voted the Bundesliga Player of the Season after scoring eight goals and dishing out five assists, but Dortmund’s 2-2 tie with Mainz on the last day of the season prevents them from winning the league.
June 2023 – Bellingham completes his £88.5 million initial move to Real Madrid, the reigning Spanish champions.
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