Kylian Mbappé was officially introduced as a Real Madrid player in front of tens of thousands of supporters at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Tuesday. The 25-year-old French international, who joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, signed a five-year contract with the LaLiga champions after passing a physical earlier in the day at Madrid’s Valdebebas training site.
Fans had gathered eagerly for hours, filling the 85,000-capacity stadium to witness Mbappé’s long-awaited introduction. The presentation ceremony commenced at 12:30 p.m. Spanish time, marking a historic moment in the club’s illustrious history.
“It’s incredible to be here,” Mbappé addressed the crowd in Spanish, his excitement palpable. “I dreamt for many years about playing for Real Madrid, and today that dream comes true.”
Acknowledging the persistence and belief shown by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, Mbappé expressed gratitude: “I want to thank the president first. He believed in me from the first day. A lot of things happened, but I want to say thank you to everyone who has worked for me to come here. Now I’m here, I’m a Real Madrid player.”
Reflecting on his lifelong ambition, Mbappé added, “Since I was a kid, I had one dream, to play here. Being here means a lot to me … Now I want to achieve another dream, to reach the level of this club, the best in the world. I can say one thing: I’ll give everything for this club and this badge.”
The presentation ceremony saw Mbappé joined on stage by Florentino Pérez, honorary president Pirri, and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, who had invited Mbappé for a trial at the club in 2012.
Pérez, addressing Mbappé directly, praised his determination and dedication: “Congratulations for having achieved a dream. I know how excited your family is. You fell in love with Real Madrid as a boy. Your love for Real Madrid, identifying with this badge, has given you the strength to overcome every obstacle to be here as a new Real Madrid player.”
Earlier in the day, Mbappé underwent medical examinations at the Sanitas clinic in La Moraleja, where doctors assessed his fitness, including a broken nose sustained during Euro 2024. The extent of any required treatment or surgery for the injury remains undisclosed.
Following the presentation, Mbappé is set to face questions from the media in his first official news conference as a Real Madrid player, where he is expected to outline his ambitions for the upcoming season and beyond.
