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.

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.

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.