Jude Bellingham is set to be registered as an EU player at Real Madrid, thanks to a clever loophole the club is planning to exploit.
The 20-year-old talented midfielder has joined Los Blancos, becoming the latest English player to make his way to the Spanish giants.
He follows in the footsteps of legendary players such as Laurie Cunningham, Steve McManaman, David Beckham, Jonathan Woodgate, and Michael Owen, who have all represented Real Madrid in the past.
Bellingham’s transfer to Real Madrid involved an initial fee of £88.5 million, and he inked a six-year contract with the club.
Already making an impact, he scored his first goal for the team during a highly lucrative friendly match against Manchester United in the United States earlier this week.
Jude Bellingham is expected to make his competitive debut for Real Madrid against Athletic Club on 12th August.
Despite the United Kingdom officially leaving the European Union on 31st January 2020, Bellingham is set to be considered an EU player.
In Italy, British and Swiss footballers are still considered EU players, but many other football federations do not recognize them as such following Brexit.
However, Bellingham has the advantage of dual nationality.
He is eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland due to his grandmother on his father Mark’s side, which likely allows him to retain his status as an EU player in Spanish football.
There is even a photo of a young Bellingham wearing an Irish shirt and MARCA say Real are taking advantage of those very roots.
The Spanish giants are currently waiting on confirmation from the Irish embassy but are very hopeful that his Irish passport, which is still an EU document, will allow his registration.
He will not therefore not have to occupy a non-EU spot, freeing up another place in the Real squad.
Regulations in La Liga means clubs can only have three non-EU players but Real won big last year when Brazilian trio Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo Goes and Eder Militao all received Spanish citizenship just 53 days apart.
In the eyes of La Liga, they are now all deemed to be Spanish.
Bellingham has quickly settled in with the 14-time European champions after moving from Borussia Dortmund and is already enjoying his new surroundings.
“I look like I am enjoying it, I like to think,” Bellingham said after the win over United in Houston, Texas.
“So far, so good. I am enjoying playing with this team, learning from so many great players. I am definitely not getting carried away just yet. There are big challenges to come this season.
“There is a lot to aim for and rightly so. It is the biggest club with the best players. The expectations are high as they should be. It is about us going out there and matching that.”