Liverpool and Real Madrid were the main contenders, but Liverpool decided it was too expensive to pursue Bellingham. As a result, Real Madrid became the frontrunners, although Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain also showed interest.
Dortmund has now confirmed that Bellingham will be sold to Real Madrid for €103m (£88.4m), which could increase to €133.9m (£115m) based on performance-related conditions. Bellingham, who used to play for Birmingham City, is expected to undergo a medical examination soon and sign a contract with Real Madrid until the end of the 2028-29 season.
According to Spanish journalist Jose Luis Sanchez, Manchester City approached Bellingham about a move to England, but he turned down their offer. It's unclear if Manchester City's ongoing investigation for alleged financial breaches influenced Bellingham's decision.
Additionally, Manchester City believed that Bellingham was set on moving to Madrid, as he prepares to end his successful three-year stint in the Bundesliga.
Bellingham left England and joined Dortmund when he was only 17 years old in 2020, for a fee of €30.2m (£25.9m). During his time at Dortmund, he scored 24 goals and provided 25 assists in 132 matches across all competitions. In the 2022-23 season, he scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 42 matches. Bellingham won the DFB-Pokal with Dortmund but narrowly missed out on the Bundesliga title to Bayern Munich, losing on goal difference in the 2022-23 season.
After failing to sign Bellingham, Manchester City is reportedly in talks with Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic for a potential midfield addition. They have agreed on personal terms, and the transfer could cost around £35m.
There are also concerns that Manchester City may lose their captain, Ilkay Gundogan, on a free transfer at the end of the month. Additionally, doubts have arisen about Bernardo Silva's future at Manchester City.
