Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger has signed his pre-contract with Real Madrid ahead of completing a free transfer to the Spanish capital this summer, 90min can confirm.
Sources close to the German international defender have confirmed that the 29-year-old has put pen to paper for the La Liga champions on a four-year deal.
However, public confirmation of the transfer is not expected to arrive until after the end of the season, with Real's focus on the Champions League final and Chelsea keen to keep the attention on their push for a spot in the Premier League's top four.
Rudiger's contract with Chelsea will expire at the end of June and the club have long been resigned to losing one of their key defenders for nothing this summer. The Blues' offers of a renewal fell short of his expectations and, with Chelsea banned from discussing new contracts following the sanctions on Roman Abramovich, the defender opted to look elsewhere.
90min understands the Germany international completed a medical in London a fortnight ago and talks over personal terms have now been finalised, including a lucrative signing-on bonus and agent fees.
Listen now to 90min's brand new podcast, Talking Transfers, with Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth. On this week's agenda is Erling Haaland's transfer to Manchester City, Ralf Rangnick recommending Konrad Laimer to Manchester United and the latest on the contract situations of Youri Tielemans and Sadio Mane.
Rudiger will sign a four-year contract worth in excess of £250,000 per week with bonuses - similar to what Real talisman Karim Benzema is currently paid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real hope that Rudiger will not be the only free signing to arrive this summer, with Los Blancos still doing what they can to convince Kylian Mbappe to walk away from Paris Saint-Germain.
Source : 90min