Real Madrid have officially agreed a transfer for Chelsea star Eden Hazard on a five-year contract, pending a medical.
The move is subject to the 28-year-old completing a medical and signing his contract with Real.
“Although it is with sadness we say goodbye to Eden and we made it absolutely clear to him the club wished him to stay, we respect the decision he has made to take on a new challenge in a different country and follow his childhood dream of playing for Real Madrid,” said Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.
“The memories he leaves us with will not fade. He provided all who watched Chelsea play with great entertainment and many match-winning contributions, and for that we thank Eden enormously.
“He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club, a wonderful individual to have around and a joy to work with. We look forward to welcoming him back to Stamford Bridge in the future.”
Multiple reports on Thursday reported an agreement worth up to €146m (£130m) for the star player had been reached between the clubs, of which €100m (£88m) was an upfront payment.
The reports in The Telegraph and ESPN FC claimed that the €100m initial fee would be added too with a further €46m of ‘easily achievable’ bonuses.
The Belgian international is the third arrival at Madrid this summer following FC Porto defender Eder Militao and Eintracht Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic.
A report in Diario AS this week claimed that Madrid’s general director José Ángel Sánchez had been meeting with Chelsea’s main transfer negotiator Marina Granovskaia in London.
Hazard, 28, has been heavily linked with a move to the outgoing European champions with reports that he is currently house-hunting in the Spanish capital.
Marca have previously reported on a near ‘total agreement’ between all parties with the player to sign a six-year deal at Los Blancos.
Hazard has spent a successful seven years at Stamford Bridge, winning the Premier League twice, one FA Cup and two Europa League titles, since a 2012 move from Lille.
