It’s the transfer saga that rears its ugly head every year. This time, however, Kylian Mbappe finally looks set to leave France for Spain.

The France captain has long flirted with a move to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, where he became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer after joining as a prodigious teenager from Monaco.

With his contract expiring at Parc des Princes in the summer, here’s every update on Mbappe’s expected move to the Bernabeu in the 2024 summer transfer window.

While boasting a perfectly honourable club history, Everton were never in the running for Mbappe’s signature. That didn’t stop Idrissa Gana Gueye claiming the PSG forward watched Toffees games with him during their down time together, however.

There’s going to be plenty of conjecture over Mbappe’s shirt number over the coming months, too. Luka Modric currently has the 10 shirt, but with the Croatia legend’s future up in the air, that jersey could have a new holder come the start of the 2024/25 season.

Mbappe’s entourage had long insisted the France captain’s next club had not been decided. However, shortly after his departure was revealed, Mbappe reportedly agreed terms on a contract with Los Blancos.

His five-year deal will see him take home a weekly salary of £250,000, with a handful of established Madrid stars currently earning more.

Real Madrid had stormed to a six-point lead at the top of La Liga by mid-February in 2023/24, also being well placed in the Champions League last 16, but Ancelotti still had to hit back at critics for suggesting his side had been negatively affected by all the speculation.

You can’t mention Mbappe without thinking about Liverpool. ‘Project Mbappe’ and all that, right?

However, France international teammate Ibrahima Konate poured the coldest of cold water to extinguish the more deluded thoughts of Mbappe lining up in red at Anfield, literally laughing away any hope of the Merseysiders pipping Madrid to his signature.

Real Madrid’s build-up to their La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano was dominated by Mbappe speculation, perhaps resulting in a worse than expected performance in the 1-1 draw.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti was tasked with batting away questions on the French superstar ahead of kick-off, though the Italian gave little away about his side’s interest.

“I see and hear what has happened,” Ancelotti said. “I understand that it is the topic of the day for you, but for us it is tomorrow’s game. We’ll have to do it right, that’s what I think. And to finish the season well.”

Pressed if he would like to sign Mbappe, he added: “I would like to finish this season well, win titles. That’s what I would like and what we work for. There’s a lot left for next time.”

Mbappe was dropped from PSG’s starting XI for their first game after his decision became public, though he did come off the bench to score their second from the penalty spot in a 2-0 win over Nantes.

All clubs dream of signing a player with the ability and worldwide appeal of Mbappe, so naturally a couple of modern sides immediately had to respond to speculation linking them with a move this summer.

INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford – now a key figure at Manchester United – stated the obvious problem with a potential transfer and while Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was happy to be “in the conversation”, he too admitted Mbappe is likely to join Real Madrid.

No documentary series was lined up for the big reveal, but Mbappe’s intentions became clear in February 2024 when he finally told PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi of his desire to leave at the end of his contract.

While neither PSG nor Mbappe publicly commented, the reports of his decided departure caused quite the buzz on social media.

An iconic photo of Mbappe in his youth shows the star forward in his bedroom surrounded by posters of Cristiano Ronaldo. From that point on, he always looked destined to join Real Madrid. However, he has left the Spanish giants hanging on a number of occasions.

He chose PSG over Madrid when leaving Monaco in 2017, becoming their second mega-money signing of the summer window after Neymar, before Madrid came calling again in 2021. A €100m offer from Florentino Perez which would rise to €200m saw Mbappe reject his long-term admirers again, and just a few weeks later things seemed to get worse for Madrid.

With his PSG contract due to expire in the summer of 2022, Mbappe was at the centre of an all-out attack from his employers as they looked to tie their star asset down for the foreseeable future. They were successful as the forward signed fresh terms for two more years with the option of a third.

However, things didn’t improve at PSG despite their domestic dominance.

Big names like Lionel Messi, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino all arrived as the French giants attempted to buy their way to the Champions League, but continental success is still to arrive at Parc des Princes.

An explosive letter in 2022 changed the landscaped and in June 2023 Mbappe admitted he had decided not to renew. He was left out of pre-season duties before being reintegrated following “constructive and positive discussions”.