Madrid(Spain)- Real Madrid has confirmed the long-awaited signing of Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger on a four-year deal. Rudiger was set to join Real after choosing the newly-crowned European champions over a host of other elite clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Manchester United.
It was reported at the time that the Germany international’s new deal would be worth €400,000 (£340,000) per week.
Real say they will present Rudiger as their player at a ceremony on June 20.
How Chelsea’s delay cost them, Rudiger
Rudiger was set to sign a contract extension with Chelsea in October 2020 after the club agreed to let him go on loan.
Rudiger was not a regular under then-manager Frank Lampard but was happy to extend his deal by a further year until 2023 provided he was loaned out, with interest from PSG, AC Milan and Tottenham. However, Rudiger felt Chelsea took too long to close the new terms of the contract and no deal was signed.
Chelsea offered him a new contract in August 2021 worth £140,000 a week, which Rudiger rejected. Real Madrid, Juventus, Barcelona, PSG and Bayern Munich all held talks with his representatives over a free transfer. Manchester United was also thought to be interesting.
Rudiger will be one of the highest-paid players in world football at Madrid.
With Rudiger’s departure finally confirmed, and his fellow centre-back Andreas Christensen also set to move to La Liga, Chelsea is now pressing ahead with their summer recruitment plans.
The £4.25bn Todd Boehly-led consortium takeover of the club was completed earlier this week, which should allow Thomas Tuchel to begin building his squad for the upcoming campaign, with centre-back certain to be an area of concern.
The Blues have a verbal agreement already in place with Sevilla defender Jules Kunde, with the Spanish club preferring a quick deal as they aim to balance their books before June 30.
Talks on a deal for Kunde had collapsed last year but there is optimism from all parties it will get done this time.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe is part of a shortlist of central defensive options and is Tuchel’s preference. Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez and RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol are also among those being looked at.