Soccer

Has Kylian Mbappé signed for Real Madrid?

According to The Athletic, the PSG forward has agreed a deal to join Real Madrid as a free agent at the end of the season, although nothing has been signed.

BENOIT TESSIERREUTERS

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé has reportedly agreed personal terms on a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season. The France international, 23, has long been linked with a switch from Ligue 1 to the Santiago Bernabéu and he is the priority target of Florentino Pérez, the PSG forward becoming almost an obsession for the Madrid president, who did not get involved in an attempt to derail Erling Haaland’s move to Manchester City. Madrid have barely made any signings since their interest in Mbappé became a little too public for PSG’s liking and the arrival of the World Cup-winner will be the biggest splash Madrid have made in the market since the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, which both broke the world transfer record at the time.

Mbappé agrees deal in principle to join Madrid

The Athletic reported on Monday that Mbappé has agreed personal terms with Madrid, but that does not mean a deal is in place. Nothing has been signed and PSG remain hopeful of persuading Mbappé to stay, but the prolific forward has been free to negotiate with clubs outside of Ligue 1 since January as his contract expires next month. It is unlikely any official announcement will be made before PSG’s final game of the season against Metz on Saturday, but the stage could well be set for Mbappé to bid farewell to the Parc des Princes.

The France striker, who joined PSG from Monaco in 2017, will not command a fee as he will be a free agent from June, but Madrid will likely have to pull out all the stops as he will inevitably be made the club’s highest-paid player, a status currently enjoyed by Bale, who will be leaving the Bernabéu this summer, and Eden Hazard, who despite a disappointing season remains in the plans of Carlo Ancelotti.

Mbappé has netted 168 goals in 216 appearances for PSG and has established himself as a player many observers regard as the best in the world currently. He won the World Cup with Les Bleus in 2018 and the Nations League in 2021 and has five Ligue 1 titles (one while at Monaco), three Coupes de France and two Coupes de la Ligue to his name, but he has yet to win the Champions League, something that undoubtedly made Madrid and Ancelotti attractive to the forward, with no club having won more and no coach having led his sides to more finals.

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