Antonio Rudiger SIGNS for Real Madrid after putting pen to paper on a four-year deal

Real Madrid have inserted a £340million release clause into Antonio Rudiger’s contract after the Chelsea defender completed his move to Spain on Tuesday.

The Germany star has signed a four-year contract with the La Liga side worth in the region of £315,000-per-week. He will also net a signing on fee that will take his wage significantly north of that figure.

Sportsmail exclusively revealed in December that Rudiger was in line to earn £400,000-per-week if he was to leave Chelsea.

Antonio Rudiger completes his move to Real Madrid, putting pen to paper on a four-year deal

Rudiger has been one of the Blues’ most important players but will now leave for nothing

Sources close to the deal have also indicated that Rudiger’s release clause at Madrid will be €400m (£342m).

An official announcement is not expected until the end of May or start of June.

The eye-watering financial package is worth significantly more than the £230,000-per-week deal Chelsea were offering him to stay at Stamford Bridge.

However, Rudiger turned down bigger offers from elsewhere in Europe to sign for Real, who were the defender’s first-choice destination ever since talks opened in January. 

Rudiger turned down the chance to stay with Thomas Tuchel (right) and will now instead join Carlo Ancelotti (left) at the Bernabeu in the summer

Manchester United, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus were all interested in Rudiger.

Rudiger, who had always been open to staying at Chelsea, will find it a wrench to leave the Blues, particularly current head coach Thomas Tuchel with whom he has formed a close bond – but the prestige of joining Real was too tempting to turn down.