France striker Karim Benzema was presented as a Real Madrid player on Thursday after completing his 41million euro transfer from Lyon.

The 21-year-old passed a medical having already agreed a six-year deal with the Bernabeu club and was unveiled as Madrid's latest 'Galactico'.

"I'm absolutely delighted to become a Real Madrid player, the best club in the world," Benzema said.

"I'm delighted to be able to play for the same club as two of my idols played for, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo."

The France international will cost Madrid an initial 35 million euros, rising to 41 million dependent on performances, and will be the fourth new arrival to be unveiled by the Spanish giants since Florentino Perez returned to the presidency at the start of June.

Kaka was the first to be presented last Tuesday following his move from AC Milan, then came former Valencia defender Raul Albiol last Thursday, before world-record signing Cristiano Ronaldo took centre stage on Monday evening in front of an estimated 90,000 fans at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid's medical chief Carlos Diez told www.realmadrid.com: "The player is in peak condition to play sport at the highest level.

"He has arrived in very good shape after the summer."

Benzema came through the ranks at Lyon and established himself as one of the hottest properties in Europe in the 2007-08 season with 31 goals in 51 games, a streak that saw him named Ligue 1 player of the year as well as topping the league's scoring charts.

The last campaign was less impressive for both club and player, as Lyon ended the season without the Ligue 1 title for the first time in eight years, but Benzema nevertheless scored 23 goals in all competitions - an average of a goal every other game.