Lyon’s Ferland Mendy has become Real Madrid’s latest summer signing, joining the Blancos in a deal worth an initial €48 million (£42.7m/$54m).

Having seriously under-performed both at home and in Europe during the 2018-19 season, Madrid president Florentino Perez is sparing no expense to ensure the coming campaign will mark an improvement.

Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard are already confirmed arrivals, from Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea respectively, while Santos wonderkid Rodrygo is also expected to complete his move to the Bernabeu over the summer. The club also added defender Eder Militao from Porto as Real Madrid have rebuilt the squad in a big way this summer.

Now, after spending heavily on bolstering the Blanco forward line with the Jovic and Hazard moves, Madrid have turned their attention on defence once again, bringing in the highly rated left-back on a six-year contract as the presumed heir to ageing Brazil legend Marcelo.

“Real Madrid and Olympique Lyonnaise have agreed the transfer of the player Ferland Mendy,” Madrid confirmed in a statement published on the club’s official website.

“The player will be linked to the club for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2025.

“Mendy will be presented on Wednesday June 19, at 1pm, in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.”

According to Lyon, the sale was negotiated for the sum of €48m plus a further €5m in future bonuses.

Mendy, 24, came through the ranks of Le Havre and earned a move to Lyon at the start of the 2017-18 season.

He went on to make 79 appearances for the club, scoring on three occasions while helping Lyon secure a third-place finish behind Paris Saint-Germain and Lille in Ligue 1 this season

He has also earned three caps for the France national team to date. Mendy made his international debut in November, replacing Benjamin Mendy in the squad, featuring against Uruguay in a fall friendly.

Real Madrid finished third in La Liga last season, behind both Barcelona and Athletico Madrid with Julen Lopetegui, Santiago Solari and, ultimately, Zinedine Zidane taking charge at the club.

In the Champions League, Los Blancos failed to defend their title, ending their run of three consecutive titles with a Round of 16 defeat at the hands of Ajax.

Goal.com