Real Madrid signed Eden Hazard from Chelsea on Friday for its second major offseason addition, and reportedly its most expensive ever.
The 28-year-old forward joined Madrid on a five-year contract and a transfer fee reported to be around 100 million euros ($113 million) plus variables, which would make him the club’s biggest signing.
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Real Madrid announced the agreement with Chelsea and the Belgian player through a video on all their social networks.
Madrid is rebuilding after one of the worst seasons in club history and had added forward Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this week.
The Spanish club hadn’t made any blockbuster signings in years and was yet to bring in a top player to try to replace Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portugal forward left to join Juventus last season.
Hazard had already indicated his final game for Chelsea was last week’s Europa League final victory over Arsenal. With two goals in his 352nd appearance for the club, he finished with a total of 110.
“Although it is with sadness we say goodbye to Eden and we made it absolutely clear to him the club wished him to stay,” Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said. Also she said “The memories he leaves us with will not fade.”
“He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club, a wonderful individual to have around and a joy to work with.”
Real Madrid prepares a presentation at the height of the great celebrations for the Belgian.
Hazard is expected to be officially introduced to Madrid fans next week, at June 13th after undergoing a medical. “Hazard has world class technique, vision, dribbling, pace and finishing,” Real Madrid said.
Madrid earlier this year had signed Brazilian defender Eder Militao, who will join from Porto next season. Teenage forward Rodrygo, bought from Brazilian club Santos for nearly 45 million euros ($50.6 million) last year, also will be added to the squad for next season.
