Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid have agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund to sign England midfielder Jude Bellingham for 103m euros (£88.5m).
The 19-year-old, who joined Dortmund from Birmingham City in July 2020, was one of England’s top performers at last year’s World Cup.
Bellingham wants the move and will have a medical in the next few days.
The midfielder, who has been linked with some of Europe’s top sides, will sign a six-year deal.
Dortmund have confirmed in a statement that the Spanish side have agreed to pay 103m euros, with various potential add-ons on top of that
If those add-ons are achieved, the deal could reach 133.9m euros (£115m).
Manchester City and Liverpool were two of the sides keen on Bellingham, who is set to become the world’s third-most expensive teenager.
The Bundesliga’s player of the season will also become the second-most expensive English footballer and Real Madrid’s second-most expensive signing after Eden Hazard’s 115m euro move from Chelsea in 2019.
Most expensive English footballers
Jack Grealish
Aston Villa to Manchester City
2021
£100m
Harry Maguire
Leicester to Manchester United
2019
£80m
Jadon Sancho
Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United
2021
£73m
Kyle Walker
Tottenham to Manchester City
2017
£45m, rising to £50m plus add-ons
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Crystal Palace to Manchester United
2019
£50m
Ben White
Brighton to Arsenal
2021
£50m
Raheem Sterling
Manchester City to Chelsea
2022
£50m
Raheem Sterling
Liverpool to Manchester City
2015
£49m
John Stones
Everton to Manchester City
2016
£47.5m
Ben Chilwell
Leicester to Chelsea
2020
£45m
In April, Liverpool dropped out of the race to sign Bellingham because of the cost involved. Asked about Bellingham at the time, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp compared talk of big-money transfers to a “child wanting a Ferrari for Christmas”.
When Bellingham left Birmingham for Dortmund for £25m, becoming the most expensive 17-year-old in the history of football, the Championship side were mocked by some for retiring the teenager’s shirt number, despite him only playing one full season of professional football.
He excelled at Dortmund and in October last year he made history by becoming the club’s youngest captain aged 19.
Bellingham has played 42 times for his club this season – scoring 14 goals and registering seven assists. (BBC)
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