Official: Real Madrid sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea

Well, it’s happened.

Eden Hazard has officially left Chelsea and joined Real Madrid, to play childhood idol, and now head coach Zinedine Zidane. The reported transfer fee is €100m (£88m), with significant add-ons upwards of €30-40m extra (for a total price of up to £130m).

Seven years in the making. Seven glorious, fun, trophy-filled years at Chelsea.

Hazard, nowadays a hard-to-believe 28 years of age, is set to sign a six five-year contract (with outrageous wages to match) with the rebuilding and free-spending Spanish giants, becoming their latest Galactico, just as it was always written. The move is officially pending a medical still but surely that’s just a formality. He’s set to be presented at the Santiago Bernabeu on June 13.

Some things are inevitable.

Eden had made it pretty clear last summer already that he was looking for a “new challenge” but to his credit, he did not throw a fit like his buddy Courtoissss, and not only stayed with Chelsea but had his best season in terms of goals and assists for the team. He also ensured that he’d be going out on a high note, leading Chelsea to the Europa League trophy with a Man of the Match performance in the 4-1 win over Arsenal in the final.

But now, he’s gone. The Garden of Eden is no longer here.

“Although it is with sadness we say goodbye to Eden and we made it absolutely clear to him the club wished him to stay, we respect the decision he has made to take on a new challenge in a different country and follow his childhood dream of playing for Real Madrid.

“The memories he leaves us with will not fade. He provided all who watched Chelsea play with great entertainment and many match-winning contributions, and for that we thank Eden enormously. He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club, a wonderful individual to have around and a joy to work with. We look forward to welcoming him back to Stamford Bridge in the future.”

-Marina Granovskaia; source: Chelsea FC

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

Farewell, Eden. Come back soon.