Real Madrid officially unveiled England captain David Beckham as their latest signing on Wednesday at a glitzy ceremony beamed live across the world.

Former Real great Alfredo di Stefano handed Beckham the club's famous white shirt, adorned with the number 23 made famous in sport by American basketball legend Michael Jordan.

"Beckham is here because we believe in him as a footballer...David, welcome to the dream league," Real's president Florentino Perez said.

A beaming Beckham, wearing a white shirt and a light blue suit and accompanied by his wife Victoria, showed off his newly learned Spanish.

"Gracias. Senor di Stefano and Senor Perez...I've always loved football. Of course I love my family and I have a wonderful life but football is everything for me and joining Real Madrid is a dream come true," Beckham said.

"Gracias and Hala Madrid (Come on Madrid)."

Hundreds of cheering fans later welcomed the 28-year-old midfielder to Real's training ground, where Beckham got a taste of the Spanish sunshine and the perfectly manicured turf.

Beckham, sporting the full Real kit, performed a series of tricks for the crowd, balancing the ball on his head and posing for photographs with fans. A young boy somehow managed to join him on the pitch, hugging his new hero several times before being presented with a Real shirt of his own.

On Tuesday, following a medical, Beckham became the fourth world class player to sign for Real in the past three years, following Portuguese winger Luis Figo, French midfielder Zinedine Zidane and Brazilian striker Ronaldo.

Real have won the European Cup a record nine times and took their total of Spanish league championships to 29 last season.

The Spanish club are banking on the arrival of Beckham, who enjoys popstar-like adulation from millions of fans around the world, to add further marketing muscle to a club looking to broaden their appeal in Asian markets.

Beckham and his wife have been whisked around Madrid in a motorcade during their lightning visit to the Spanish capital, after flying into a military airbase aboard a private plane.

Their elder son Brooklyn and Beckham's mother have joined them for the trip to the family's new home.

Spanish interest in Beckham has gained pace since the club announced his move to Madrid from Manchester United last month in a deal worth up to 35 million euros, but there have not been the sort of crowds seen during his recent tour of Asia.