Kylian Mbappé joins Real Madrid: A dream transfer sealed

In a high-profile transfer that has the soccer world buzzing, Kylian Mbappé, at 25, has officially signed with Real Madrid, concluding what he describes as a "dream come true." 

As his contract with Paris St-Germain draws to a close on June 30, Mbappé is set to adorn the white of Madrid at the iconic Bernabeu Stadium on a lucrative five-year deal.

The forward is slated to earn a staggering 15 million euros per season, supplemented by a 150 million euro signing-on bonus spread over five years. 

In addition to these hefty sums, Mbappé will retain a portion of his image rights, further sweetening the deal.

"Nobody can understand how excited I am right now!" Mbappé shared on his Instagram account, echoing the sentiment on X, "A dream come true. So happy and proud to join the club of my dreams."

His arrival at Madrid is timed with the club's recent triumph in La Liga and their historic 15th European crown, having just secured the Champions League title against Borussia Dortmund. Mbappé joins a team that is reminiscent of the early 2000s ‘Galácticos’ which boasted of legends like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and Luis Figo. 

His addition is expected to elevate Real Madrid's already formidable lineup featuring young talents such as Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham.

Madrid's players have warmly welcomed Mbappé, with forward Brahim Díaz stating, "Welcome to the best club in the world," and former goalkeeper Iker Casillas humorously commenting, "I don’t know if we won the Champion League on Saturday or if we won it today with Mbappé's signing."

Before this monumental move, Mbappé had exclusively played in France, beginning his career at Monaco before a standout seven-season stint at PSG, which he left as their all-time top scorer. 

Throughout his career, Mbappé has amassed an impressive resume: he was pivotal in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, scored a World Cup final hat trick in 2022, and has multiple domestic titles including seven French league championships and four French Cups. 

His speed and scoring ability have dominated football fields across Europe, making him a feared opponent in every match.

His departure from PSG also marked the end of an era as he left as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 256 goals. 

At Real Madrid, the expectations are high, and the stage is set for Mbappé to possibly lead the team to further glory and perhaps, finally clinch that elusive Champions League trophy.