Real Madrid has set the date to introduce their new player, Kylian Mbappe, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. They also revealed his shirt number for the 2024/25 season.
Mbappe, the French team captain, decided not to extend his contract with PSG towards the end of the 2023/24 season. His move to Real Madrid was confirmed in early June.
He signed a five-year deal with the 15-time European champions, and the club announced that fans would meet him next week.
Mbappe will wear the number 9 shirt, which is temporary until Luka Modric leaves and the number 10 shirt becomes available.
The number 9 shirt has been vacant since Karim Benzema left for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia at the end of the 2022/23 season. Cristiano Ronaldo also wore it briefly before switching to number 7.
A statement from the club reads: “Real Madrid CF announces that on Tuesday, July 16, at 12:00 p.m., Kylian Mbappe’s presentation will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Before that, club president Florentino Perez will welcome him to Real Madrid City for the signing ceremony of his five-year contract. After the presentation, Mbappe will talk to the media at the Santiago Bernabeu.”
Reports had suggested that Mbappe’s presentation would be in grand style, the “most impressive presentation ever made of a footballer.”
Mbappe, 25, was recently knocked out of Euro 2024 with France after their semi-final loss to Spain. He scored only one penalty during the tournament.