Last Updated: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:04
Real Madrid have continued their huge summer spending spree by signing Karim Benzema from Lyon for £29.7million on a six-year contract.
The highly-rated France international, also a target for Premier League champions Manchester United, joins Kaka, Ronaldo and Raul Albiol at the Bernabeu in a deal which sees Spain's capital club's close-season outlay pass the 200million euro mark.
The fee could yet rise to 41million euros (£34.8m) dependent on performance clauses and a statement posted on Real's official club website read: "Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique Lyonnais have reached an agreement for the transfer of Karim Benzema, contingent upon the player's medical examination and the signing of his contracts.
"The 21-year-old striker will sign a six-year contract with Real Madrid."
A statement from Les Gones read: "A few days ago Karim Benzema informed the club president Jean Michel Aulas of his desire to move to the Madrid club, which had always been his favourite club after Lyon, earlier than he had foreseen.
"The player wanted to seize the opportunity which Real Madrid offered him to be one of the major elements in their new ambitious project based around the greatest players of the world.
"Lyon accepted Karim Benzema's decision and negotiated the conditions of a transfer which satisfies all the different parties.
"The club wishes Karim the greatest success with Real Madrid."