Real Madrid signs Eden Hazard from Chelsea on a five-year deal

Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea on a five-year contract, the La Liga club said in a statement on Friday.

Real did not reveal the fee but Spanish media reports said they have agreed to pay Chelsea 100m euros ($113.34m) for the Belgium international, who was set to become a free agent in June 2020.

The statement added that Hazard would be officially presented at the club's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on June 13, subject to completing a medical test.

The 28-year-old joined Chelsea from Lille in 2012 for 32m pounds ($40.61m) and won the Europa League in his first season. He later won the Premier League title in 2015 and in 2017 as well as one League Cup and FA Cup.

The Blues confirmed his exit last Friday.

Hazard, 28, had another excellent season for Chelsea, scoring 16 goals and adding 15 assists in 37 Premier League appearances (32 starts). He also bagged a brace in the UEFA Europa League final win over Arsenal.

It was Hazard's fifth EPL campaign with at least 12 goals, and his fourth with seven or more assists.

Hazard combines solid pace with pinpoint ball control out wide. He can easily break down defenders with his dribbling, and he is nearly impossible to bully off of the ball, as he uses a strong base and excellent balance to shield off defenders. 

An aggressive attacker, Hazard can both set up chances for his team-mates and beat a keeper from range. Though he isn't always the most willing defender, he is one of the brightest forwards in the game. 

For Los Blancos, Hazard can't truly replace Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus a year ago, but it's hard to imagine Real Madrid would find a much better option this summer after failing to adequately replace CR7's impact last season.

Hazard's addition could be the first of several if Real Madrid choose to revamp their attack, with only Karim Benzema (21 goals, six assists) representing a true threat in the 2018-19 La Liga campaign.

A front three of Hazard, Benzema and Gareth Bale would cause nightmares for opposing back lines if it's kept intact, though Bale's future with Los Blancos remains up in the air. But after thriving at Chelsea, the expectation will be that Hazard will remain world class in Madrid.