Jude Bellingham is set to receive an Irish passport in order to be registered as an EU player at Real Madrid.
The England international joined Real Madrid earlier this summer for a reported £86m plus add-ons following three eye-catching seasons at German giants Borussia Dortmund.
Due to Brexit, Bellingham was expected to be registered as one of Real Madrid's non-EU players heading into his maiden campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu, with each club allowed to have five non-EU players on the books at any given time but only allowed to name three in a matchday squad.
While Real Madrid have few concerns regarding the non-EU quota thanks to their Brazilian contingent of Vinicius Junior, Eder Militao and Rodrygo all receiving Spanish citizenship last year, Marca have reported that the club are still keen to not use up a non-EU spot on Bellingham.
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The loophole found to do this is Bellingham's eligibility to play for the Republic of Ireland due to his grandmother being Irish.
Real Madrid are currently awaiting confirmation from the Irish embassy that Bellingham's Irish passport has been issued - something which is expected to come.
The midfielder has made an early impression on Madrid fans in pre-season, scoring a stunning goal in his new club's 2-0 win over Manchester United in Houston, Texas this week. Bellingham will be expected to put in a similarly eye catching performance in his maiden El Clasico outing against Barcelona this weekend.
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This article was originally published on 90min as How Real Madrid plan to exploit loophole to register Jude Bellingham as EU player.
