French Superstar Joins Newly Crowned Champions League Winners

Real Madrid confirmed the signing of French superstar Kylian Mbappé on Monday, adding arguably the best soccer player in the world to their Champions League-winning squad.

Third Time's the Charm for Los Blancos

This marks the third attempt by Real Madrid to secure Mbappé's talent. They first tried in 2017, then again in 2022, before finally succeeding in 2024. Mbappé will join the club on a free transfer after opting out of extending his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.

Signing Details and Pay Cut

Mbappé signed a five-year contract worth €15 million ($16.4 million) a year after taxes, with additional incentives based on performance. While this comes with a significant signing bonus of €150 million ($164 million), it signifies a pay cut from his PSG salary, which reportedly reached $100 million a year pre-tax.

This move prioritizes his dream of playing for Real Madrid over the immense financial offers from other clubs, such as Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, who reportedly offered a much higher salary.

A Winning History and Looking Ahead

Mbappé brings a decorated career to Real Madrid. He helped PSG dominate Ligue 1 for seven seasons, winning the league every year and leading the league in goals six times. He's also a World Cup champion with France (2018), where he won Best Young Player, and the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner.

Mbappé's arrival bolsters Real Madrid's already formidable squad, fresh off their 15th Champions League title win. This move also marks a shift for PSG, whose "wild spending spree" saw them lose millions and fall short of their Champions League aspirations, despite bringing in superstars like Messi and Neymar.