A year ago, on transfer deadline day, Bellingham made headlines by moving from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid in a deal reportedly worth €103 million, according to “Transfermarkt.” The young Englishman was expected to shine at the Santiago Bernabéu, and he wasted no time proving his worth.
In his debut season, Bellingham already boasts an impressive haul of three trophies: La Liga, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Champions League. Considering he’s under contract with the club until 2029, this is likely just the beginning of what could be an era-defining career at Real Madrid.
However, these titles didn’t come cheap for Madrid. The initial €103 million price tag has since ballooned to €133.9 million, thanks to various performance-related bonuses written into the contract. Dortmund, often referred to as the “millionaires” for their business savvy in transfers, structured the deal brilliantly. The clauses kicked in quickly, with Madrid having to fork over an additional €10 million in just the first year after winning La Liga and the Champions League.
It’s not the first time Madrid has been less than transparent about the true cost of a transfer. A similar situation occurred with Gareth Bale’s move from Tottenham in 2013. At the time, club president Florentino Pérez claimed Bale cost €91 million, but it later emerged the total was €100.7 million, surpassing even Cristiano Ronaldo’s then-record transfer of €94 million. Ronaldo, who had considered himself the club’s most expensive player, was reportedly surprised by this revelation.
Jude Bellingham’s rapid rise to superstardom mirrors his fast-tracked journey through football’s ranks. He joined Birmingham City as an under-8, and by the age of 16 years and 38 days, he became the club’s youngest first-team player. His standout performances in the 2019-20 season earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund, where he broke more records, including becoming their youngest goalscorer. In his three seasons with the German giants, Bellingham made 132 appearances and won the DFB-Pokal. His stellar 2022-23 campaign earned him the Bundesliga Player of the Season award, and shortly after, he was crowned the winner of the prestigious Golden Boy award.
In 2023, Real Madrid came calling with a €103 million offer, bringing Bellingham to La Liga. It didn’t take long for him to shine in Spain, becoming the club’s top scorer in his debut season while leading them to a league title and another Champions League triumph. His performances earned him the La Liga Player of the Season award, cementing his status as one of the world’s best midfielders.
At the international level, Bellingham has been a standout for England since his youth days, representing the national team at every level from under-15 to under-21. His senior debut came in November 2020, and he has since featured prominently in major tournaments, including UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024, as well as the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
With many years still ahead of him, both for Real Madrid and the England national team, Jude Bellingham’s story is only just beginning. But one thing’s for sure—the €103 million initial price tag was just the start of what could become one of the most expensive and successful transfers in football history.
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