Getty Image / Harry Langer
Over the course of the past couple of decades, there has been no club in all of world football that has been able to make a splash during the transfer window like Real Madrid has.
With transfers for Zinedine Zidane, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Gareth Bale, Real has broken the world transfer record 4 times since the start of the new millennium.
During that time they’ve also made moves for James Rodriguez, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eden Hazard that didn’t break records, but still find themselves in the top 50 for most expensive signings in history.
Today they’ve reportedly added another gaudy signing to their long list of expensive additions.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Real Madrid has agreed to a deal with Borussia Dortmund for star midfielder Jude Bellingham that will cost them more than 100 million euros.
🚨 EXCL: Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund to sign Jude Bellingham. Fee in excess of €100m – among biggest deals in both clubs’ histories. 19yo set to have medical in coming days before completing move @TheAthleticFC #RMFC #BVB https://t.co/usrZ7gmF3N
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 7, 2023
Jude Bellingham is just 19 years old, but already became a standout at Borussia Dortmund over the past few seasons.
Bellingham has proven himself as a talented creator and had Dortmund within one win of taking home the Bundesliga this past season, with the team falling short on the last day of the season while Bellingham was unavailable.
Now he’ll join a Real Madrid squad that also finished 2nd in their league this season, but made a run to the semifinals of the Champions League before being eliminated by Manchester City.
Real Madrid has benefitted from one of world football’s best midfields in recent years with Luca Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro, but has already begun to try and rebuild that midfield with Casemiro being sent to Manchester United and the other two both aging.
Bellingham will team up with Tchouameni and Federico Valverde as the future of that midfield and will join a young core that also includes Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo up front with Eder Militia and Eduardo Camavinga on defense.
Real Madrid has some big changes coming with Karim Benzema leaving the club, but they have already made a huge move to keep themselves among the world’s best football clubs.