Chelsea's Rudiger Joins Real Madrid
Real Madrid have signed Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer.
The Germany international, 29, has agreed on a four-year contract at the Bernabeu and will join when his deal at the Premier League club expires on June 30.
A Chelsea statement said:
Chelsea thanks Toni for his contribution to our success over the last five years and wishes him well in his future career.
Rudiger, who will be presented as a Madrid player on July 20, spent five seasons at Chelsea winning the FA Cup in 2018, the Europa League in 2019 and the Champions League in 2021.
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He rejected the club’s offer of a contract extension.
Madrid were impressed by the centre-back’s performances in their Champions League quarterfinal tie in April when Rudiger scored in a 3-2 second-leg win at the Bernabeu which saw Chelsea eliminated 5-4 on aggregate.
The LaLiga club had been contacted by the defender’s representatives earlier in the season but ruled out a move at that point due to the likely costs involved.
Their position changed after the Champions League second leg, and a deal was concluded swiftly, with Rudiger’s desire to play for Madrid and a drop in his wage demands viewed as key.
Rudiger’s signing is the second time in successive seasons that Madrid have taken advantage of the availability of a top-level defender on a free transfer, after signing David Alaba from Bayern Munich last year.
Rudiger, Alaba and Eder Militao will compete to be Madrid’s first-choice centre-back pairing, although the versatile Alaba could also switch to left-back.
