Real Madrid sign Brazilian defender Éder Militão from Porto for €50m

Real Madrid have announced the signing of Éder Militão from Porto, the 21-year-old centre-back becoming the first transfer since Zinedine Zidane returned to manage the club. Militão has agreed a six-year deal in readiness for his summer move.

The fee for the Brazilian centre-back, who can also play at right-back and as a defensive midfielder, is believed to be €50m (£43.5m) after Real Madrid met a buyout clause which was set to rise by 50% at the end of the season.

Militão, who has won one cap for Brazil, began with his hometown club São Paulo before moving to Porto in August 2018. This season he has helped the Portuguese champions reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League with victory over Roma at the last-16 stage.

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A statement on the club website read: “Real Madrid CF and FC Porto have agreed the transfer of the player Éder Militão, who will be linked to the club during the next six seasons, until June 30, 2025.”

Real Madrid look likely to end this season without a trophy after they suffered a shock elimination from the Champions League when beaten at home by Ajax last week, with the manager, Santiago Solari, sacked on 11 March. They are 12 points behind the leaders Barcelona in La Liga and were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey by the Catalan club.