French soccer sensation Kylian Mbappé has finally joined Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, the club announced on Monday. This move concludes years of speculation about his future.
Mbappé, 25, will earn $16.2 million (EUR 15 million) annually after taxes from Real Madrid over a five-year contract. Additionally, he will receive an estimated $163 million (EUR 150 million) guaranteed signing bonus, spread throughout the contract period, as reported by ESPN’s Julien Laurens and Alex Kirkland.
His average annual earnings are approximately $50 million, significantly less than the reported one-year, $776 million offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal last summer. Despite this, Mbappé chose Real Madrid, foregoing over $700 million in potential earnings.
Mbappé, who is leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after seven successful years, has already amassed about $288 million in career earnings, according to Capology.com. The $776 million offer from Al Hilal would have set a record for the highest one-year contract for any athlete.
Several prominent soccer players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, have accepted lucrative deals from Saudi Arabia’s top league, the Saudi Pro League, in recent years. Ronaldo earns an estimated $213 million from Al Nassr, while Benzema collects around $214 million through his two-year contract with Al-Ittihad. Other top players like Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne have also reportedly attracted interest from Saudi clubs.
“Joining Saudi Arabia’s league is akin to retiring from top-tier soccer,” Matheson stated. “Mbappé could opt for a big payday later in his career, similar to Lionel Messi in Miami or Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.”
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Saudi Arabia’s heavy investment in sports, including golf, soccer, and Formula 1, has led to accusations of “sportswashing”—using sports to improve a tarnished reputation.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Mbappé expressed his excitement about joining Real Madrid: “A dream come true. So happy and proud to join the club of my dreams… Can’t wait to see you, Madridistas, and thanks for your unbelievable support. ¡Hala Madrid!”
At Real Madrid, Mbappé will join a team filled with young talents like Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham, all of whom have already won the Champions League. Mbappé, a World Cup winner with France, departs PSG as their all-time top scorer, boasting 256 goals, including a record 175 in Ligue 1.
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