Romano announces it: Grimaldo to Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid have found the name they were long seeking for their problem left-back position. One of the most reliable sources in transfer news, Fabrizio Romano, announced Alejandro Grimaldo's move from Bayer Leverkusen to Atlético Madrid with a "here we go." Per Romano, Leverkusen accepted a final proposal worth over €20m as a total package with add-ons. Personal terms with the player had been agreed last week, and the deal is now fully in place.

According to Romano, Grimaldo only wanted Atlético in this move; the 30-year-old left-back said "yes" to Diego Simeone's project without weighing other options. Atlético had pivoted decisively to Grimaldo after Marc Cucurella agreed terms with Real Madrid. The Spaniard agreed a contract to 2029, with an option for 2030. The fee, initially discussed in the €10-15m range, had stalled for a while due to Leverkusen's €30m demand; the final package then met at a point above €20m with add-ons. According to the reporting, Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes had travelled to Madrid for the talks.

Grimaldo joined Leverkusen on a free transfer from Benfica in the summer of 2023 and became a cornerstone of Xabi Alonso's title-winning side. His output of 14 goals and 12 assists in 44 matches from left-back took him to figures that are exceptional for his position. The Spaniard, who also stands out for his set-piece expertise, had risen to vice-captain at Leverkusen. Although his contract runs to 2027 on paper, the player had formally communicated that he would not extend; that placed the German club in the bind of "selling now at a discount or losing him for free."

This transfer is a significant turning point in Atlético's years-long search for a left-back. In a position where names such as Renan Lodi, Reguilón, Samuel Lino and Matteo Ruggeri were tried, Grimaldo is a candidate to offer Simeone the solution he has long sought, with both his attacking contribution and his Champions League experience. Atlético's activity this summer is not limited to left-back; the club are also keeping names like PSG's Kang-In Lee on their radar for midfield. With Romano's "here we go" stamp, Grimaldo's move to Madrid is now very close to official.

Source: Fabrizio Romano
Image: Yahoo Sport