- Kylian Mbappé joins Real Madrid on a five-year deal worth $16 million a year
- 25-year-old
- Mbappé took a notable pay cut to fulfill his dream of playing for Real Madrid
- Mbappé is likely to wear No. 9, as other key numbers are taken
Kylian Mbappé has joined Real Madrid on a five-year deal from Paris Saint-Germain worth $16 million.
Although he was earning $1.4 million per week at PSG, totaling $80 million gross per year plus a $32 million signing bonus, 25-year-old Mbappé took a notable pay cut to fulfill his dream of playing for Real Madrid.
Mbappé will also receive a signing bonus of over $108 million, paid in installments throughout his contract.
Regarding his shirt number, Mbappé is likely to wear No. 9, as other key numbers are taken—Rodrygo has 11, Modric (who extended his contract by a year) holds 10, and Vinícius Jr. wears 7. Once Modric leaves, Mbappé is expected to take over the No. 10 jersey.
Interestingly, Cristiano Ronaldo did something similar in 2009, starting with No. 9 before switching to 7 after Raúl left.
Mbappé has never worn No. 9, having sported 29 and 12 during his rise at Monaco.
As he settles in at Real Madrid, Mbappé faces a busy period, aiming to lead France to a European Championship win for the first time since 2000. France is a favorite alongside England and hosts Germany. But Mbappé won’t be playing in the Olympics, as Real Madrid will not to release their players for the tournament.
