Jude 24, (THEWILL) – Al Hilal’s astronomical £259 million offer for Kylian Mbappe has been accepted by Paris Saint-Germain.
The long-term Real Madrid target, who has been made available for sale by PSG, is set to leave the French capital with less than a year left on his contract. Mbappe has already signalled his intent not to extend his contract and, as a result, PSG was keen on selling him this summer to prevent losing him on a free transfer.
The Saudi Pro League outfit, Al Hilal, backed by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), entered the race with a staggering bid, leading to PSG’s decision to accept and allow Mbappe to explore a potential move to Saudi Arabia, where a host of top players have already been lured by lucrative financial incentives.
While PSG initially aimed to secure around €200m (£172m) for the 24-year-old forward, Al Hilal’s record-breaking offer has exceeded all expectations, making it an almost insurmountable bid for other interested parties. Mbappe’s previous desire to join Real Madrid has not changed and his known relationship with club president Florentino Perez remains intact, even after opting to sign a new contract with PSG over Madrid’s advances in 2022.
Al Hilal’s package for the French World Cup winner has set a new benchmark in the transfer market, making it highly challenging for any other club to challenge their bid. It means that while Real Madrid can engage in pre-contract negotiations by January, they now find themselves in a waiting game. PSG’s acceptance means Al Hilal must now persuade Mbappe that a move to Saudi Arabia could be a beneficial move for his career.
The question is whether the 24-year-old, who is yet to win the coveted UEFA Champions League title, will want to leave Europe now.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
