Real Madrid is set to announce the signing of Kylian Mbappe this week, with the French star receiving a signing-on bonus of over £85 million (€100 million).
The 25-year-old forward, who has scored 256 goals in 308 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), will join Real Madrid on a five-year contract. His new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu will be worth £12.8 million (€15 million) per year after tax.
Real Madrid has admired Mbappe for a long time and tried to sign him in 2022. However, Mbappe chose to stay with PSG for an additional two years. With his contract now expired and having refused a one-year extension, he is free to move to Madrid without a transfer fee. This comes six years after PSG paid £166 million to sign him.
Despite taking a pay cut to join Real Madrid, Mbappe is eager to start a new chapter. At PSG, he earned €75 million (£63.9 million) gross in his final year, plus a €30 million (£25.6 million) annual signing-on bonus.
Sports analysts suggest various tactical setups for Real Madrid with Mbappe's arrival. One popular formation is the 4-4-2, placing Mbappe alongside Vinicius Jr. in attack, supported by Jude Bellingham in midfield. Alternatively, a 4-3-3 could see Mbappe at the center, flanked by Vinicius and Rodrygo, although this might require sacrificing a midfielder.
The addition of Mbappe is expected to significantly bolster Real Madrid's attacking options and overall team strength for the upcoming seasons.
