By Victor Kanayo
England international Jude Bellingham on Wednesday June 14, 2023, completed his move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid.
This was disclosed via a statement on Real Madrid’s official website.
Real Statement
Part of the statement tagged “Bellingham is a new Real Madrid player” reads, “Jude Bellingham (Stourbridge, 29/06/2003) is a new Real Madrid player. One of the biggest talents in world football, a midfielder who joins our club from Borussia Dortmund and arrives at Madrid after being voted the best player in the Bundesliga 2022/23. The 19-year-old is already a regular starter in the England national team.
“Bellingham joins Carlo Ancelotti’s squad after three seasons in Germany. In the most recent of these, he recorded his best campaign for Borussia Dortmund in terms of goals (14 goals in all competitions). He scored on his debut for the German side in September 2020 and became the youngest player to score in the club’s history (17 years and 77 days). That season he started the match that Borussia Dortmund won in the German Cup final.”
The England midfielder, who will become his country’s most expensive player should the deal rise to the £115m price tag including add-ons, has signed a six-year deal at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Carlo Ancelotti made the highly rated 19 year old midfielder a priority signing this summer as they look to bounce back after a mixed campaign that saw them finish 10 points behind rivals Barcelona in LaLiga, while they were also thrashed 5-1 by Man City on aggregate in the Champions League semi-finals.
It is understood the deal will guarantee Dortmund £88.5m – but will rise towards £113.5m as a result of £25m worth of performance-related add-ons – which are believed to be achievable.
Bellingham Farewell
In a farewell statement on the Dortmund website, Bellingham said: “Thank you to everyone at BVB and to the fans for everything over the past three years.
“It’s been an honour to wear your jersey so many times, in big and small moments. Even though I look forward to my next destination, I will never forget the journey there. Once Borussia always Borussia. All the best for the future.”
