Real Madrid confirm signing of Serbia striker Luka Jovic subject to medical

Jovic to join on six-year deal with Real Madrid reportedly paying Eintracht Frankfurt €60 million (Dh248m) transfer fee

epa07624442 (FILE) - Eintracht Frankfurt's Luka Jovic attends his team's training session in London, Britain, 08 May 2019 (re-issued 04 June 2019). Serbian forward Luka Jovic joins Spanish La Liga side Real Madrid for a transfer fee of reported 70 million euro, the German Bundesliga soccer club Eintracht Frankfurt confirmed on 04 June 2019. Jovic signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid. EPA/ANDY RAIN *** Local Caption *** 55177688Show less

Real Madrid have signed 21-year-old Serbia striker Luka Jovic from German side Eintracht Frankfurt on a long-term deal.

Jovic, considered one of the hottest young prospects in European football, scored 27 goals in all competitions in 2018/19, helping Frankfurt to the Europa League semi-finals and a seventh-place finish in the Bundesliga.

"Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt have agreed the transfer of Luka Jovic, subject to a medical," Real said in a statement.

"The player will be tied to the club for the next six seasons, until the 30th of June 2025," it added.

While neither Real nor Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic disclosed the size of the transfer fee, Spanish media reported Tuesday that the Spanish club were willing to pay €60 million (Dh248m) for Jovic's services.

"In sporting terms, Luka Jovic is a big loss for us," Bobic said in a statement.

"It was clear that we would not be able to turn down offers of a certain size."

He said the deal was good for the German club, who originally signed Jovic on a two-year loan from Portuguese club Benfica and took up an option for a permanent move in April after Barcelona showed interest in the Serb who has also scored his first international goal this season.

"He has the best perspectives for a brilliant career. We are proud to have helped him on his way," Bobic said.

Jovic began his career at Red Star Belgrade before joining Benfica in February 2016. He finished second top scorer in the Europa League in 2018/19, scoring 10 goals, one less than Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud. The Bundesliga club were beaten by Chelsea in the semi-finals on penalties.

In the Bundesliga, Jovic was on target with 17 goals, joint-third along with Kai Havertz of Bayer Leverkusen and Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund.

While the unveiling, presuming Jovic passes his medial, of one of Europe's hottest prospects will no doubt please the Bernabeu faithful, Madrid supporters are still eagerly anticipating the expected signing of Belgian forward Eden Hazard from Chelsea.

It was reported last month that the Spanish giants had agreed a deal with the Premier League club to sign Hazard after last Wednesday's Europa League final for €100 million. Hazard scored twice as Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1, with the forward saying afterwards that maybe it was time for him to accept a new challenge.

After years of relative inaction in the transfer market and a disappointing season that saw Real finish third in La Liga 19 points behind champions Barcelona, club president Florentino Perez appears to be harking back to the halcyon days of galactico signings of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

His first big move came in March when he persuaded Zinedine Zidane to return as manager after he quit at the end of the 2017/18 season after bringing three Champions League titles in a row to the club.