MADRID: France forward Kylian Mbappe has joined Real Madrid as a free agent on a five-year contract, the La Liga club said on Monday, ending a transfer saga that rumbled on for years before the European champions captured their newest “Galactico”.

“Real Madrid C. F. and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons,” the Spanish champions said in a statement, fresh off their 15th European Cup triumph.

The 25-year-old captain of the French national team had announced he was leaving Paris St Germain in a video posted on social media platform X on May 10.

Mbappe will move to Real Madrid in July when his PSG contract expires on June 30 but the forward will be unveiled before joining up with the France squad for the European Championship in Germany.

Mbappe joins a star-studded side in Madrid with the likes of Ballon d’Or favourites Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, led by Italian Carlo Ancelotti — the most successful coach in Champions League history with five titles.

Although Mbappe won several trophies at PSG, often completing domestic doubles and trebles, the Champions League has eluded him and remains the only major honour left to complete his sparkling resume.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2024