BREAKING: Belgium Playmaker, Eden Hazard joins Real Madrid
Belgian forward Eden Hazard has joined Real Madrid from Chelsea on five-year deal understood to be worth up to £130 million.
Talks had been ongoing for some time and appeared to hit a stumbling block in recent weeks until Real finally caved to Chelsea’s demands for their star player.
GidiTrendz understands an initial fee worth £88m was agreed on Thursday, with add-ons potentially increasing the figure by £42m.
Hazard met with his legal team to finalise the five-year contract while on international duty, terms which have increased his salary £200,000 to £400,000-a-week. He will be unveiled on June 14.
The 28-year-old’s final match for Chelsea was the Europa League Final in which in scored twice in a 4-1 win over Arsenal. After the game, while on the pitch, he confirmed it was time to say “goodbye” to the Blues.
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “Although it is with sadness we say goodbye to Eden and we made it absolutely clear to him the club wished him to stay, we respect the decision he has made to take on a new challenge in a different country and follow his childhood dream of playing for Real Madrid.
“The memories he leaves us with will not fade. He provided all who watched Chelsea play with great entertainment and many match-winning contributions, and for that we thank Eden enormously.
“He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club, a wonderful individual to have around and a joy to work with. We look forward to welcoming him back to Stamford Bridge in the future.”
The sum received smashes the previous best set when Atletico Madrid paid just under £60m for striker Diego Costa in September 2017.
