Kroos arrival bolsters Madrid midfield

Real Madrid CF have completed the signing of FC Bayern München midfielder Toni Kroos after agreeing a deal worth a reported €25m for the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner.

The 24-year-old Germany stalwart arrives at the Santiago Bernabéu on a six-year contract and joins international team-mate Sami Khedira at the European champions.

"I am incredibly proud to be here," he said. "There couldn't be anything more wonderful and I'd like to thank Real Madrid for giving me the opportunity of playing for the most important club in the world. I would also like to thank Bayern for the chance to take this step.

"I know that here it's imperative to win titles but that will act as a stimulus to me and I think I am the right man for the job. In 2013 I won the [UEFA] Champions League while Madrid did so last May. My aim is to win it again next season. I am going to give my absolute all for this club and its fans. Hala Madrid!"

Kroos claimed three Bundesliga and German Cup doubles with Bayern, the 2013 UEFA Champions League, a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup among other trophies since making his senior bow aged 17.

In total, the Greifswald native scored 13 goals in 130 German top-flight games for Bayern. He also netted ten times in 43 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer 04 Leverkusen during an 18-month loan spell between 2009 and 2010.

Elected the UEFA.com Golden Player at the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, in which Germany finished fourth, Kroos subsequently earned the Golden Ball as the FIFA U-17 World Cup's outstanding performer. In all, he has notched seven goals in 51 senior internationals and played an integral role – registering twice against hosts Brazil in the 7-1 semi-final victory – as the Mannschaft won a fourth world title this month.

Prior to defending their UEFA Champions League crown from the group stage in September, Carlo Ancelotti's side face Liga rivals Sevilla FC in the UEFA Super Cup in Cardiff on 12 August.