Real Madrid signed Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday to secure one of the most exciting young talents in world football.
Madrid made the 19-year-old one of the most
expensive players of all time with a 103 million euro ($110 million) deal,
which could rise by up to 30 percent more.
Bellingham burst onto the biggest stage at
the Qatar World Cup in 2022, driving England into the quarter-finals, where
they were narrowly ousted by eventual runners-up France.
The midfielder, who turns 20 later in June,
brought grace and balance to the Three Lions, with tireless energy to
contribute at both ends of the pitch and maturity beyond his years.
That cool head helped him become Dortmund’s
youngest captain when he took the armband last October, and he took them to the
brink of a rare title.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic has called
Bellingham “the oldest 19-year-old in the world” and was taken aback by his
unfluctuating level of performance.
“It is extraordinary to be able to play
football so consistently at that age,” said Terzic.
Bellingham scored eight goals in 31
Bundesliga appearances this season and was named the German top flight’s player
of the season in May, two days after his team missed out on the title in the
final game of the season.
The Englishman was an unused substitute in
the 2-2 draw with Mainz after sustaining a knee injury, watching on with
frustration as his team failed to earn the victory which would have clinched
their first title since 2012.
Bellingham began his career at Birmingham
City, coming through the youth ranks and helping them avoid relegation from the
Championship in his one first-team campaign at the club, 2019-20.
The midfielder became Birmingham’s youngest
ever player at 16 years and 38 days old, beating Trevor Francis’ previous 1970
record.
Birmingham made the bold choice to retire
Bellingham’s shirt number, 22, when he left for Dortmund in 2020, “to remember
one of our own and to inspire others”.
The German side splashed 25 million euros
($27 million) on the then 17-year-old, which they have more than quadrupled
now.
Although Bellingham and Dortmund’s bid to end
Bayern Munich’s total domination of the Bundesliga failed, he did lift the
German Cup in 2021, beating RB Leipzig 4-1 in the final.
“I’ve never seen a 19-year-old where you have
the feeling that he could have three kids at home, he’s someone going upwards,”
said Dortmund team-mate Niklas Suele, also highlighting his maturity.
England coach Gareth Southgate said
Bellingham was always looking to progress.
“The thing that makes the difference is the
mindset, the drive, the desire to learn and improve, and he has all of that,”
said the coach, after Bellingham inspired the team to victory over Senegal in
the World Cup last 16 in December.
Dortmund have proven themself as an ideal
destination for youngsters to flourish, with Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho,
Ousmane Dembele and others thriving there, and Bellingham is the latest off the
conveyer belt.
Arriving for a potential fee of up to 134
million euros ($143 million), it is the most Real Madrid have spent on a player
since signing Eden Hazard from Chelsea in 2019.
Madrid president Florentino Perez has largely
abandoned his policy of signing “Galacticos” but he did not miss the chance to
move for Bellingham and take care of the team’s future midfield for potentially
the next decade.
Los Blancos have been looking to find long-term
replacements for their veteran players, including midfielders Luka Modric, 37,
and Toni Kroos, 33.
Los Blancos brought in young French duo
Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni over the past two summer transfer
windows and sold holding midfielder Casemiro to Manchester United.
Bellingham is another key piece of the puzzle
for Madrid, who are keen to make strides in the summer transfer market after
Manchester City thrashed them in the Champions League semi-finals.
With Karim Benzema, Hazard and Marco Asensio
departing, among others, signing Bellingham is at once a statement of intent
and just the beginning for Madrid this summer.
Manchester City and Liverpool were also keen
on Bellingham but the record 14-time Champions League winners were always in
the driving seat, with Bellingham set to take the wheel in Madrid’s quest for
more glory.
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