Chelsea and England midfielder Conor Gallagher has officially signed with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, as confirmed by the Premier League club on Wednesday. The move comes after a period of uncertainty and is poised to have a ripple effect on both clubs involved.
Gallagher’s transfer to Atletico Madrid could pave the way for Atletico forward Joao Felix to return to Chelsea. Reports indicate that Chelsea has agreed to a £40 million ($51 million) fee for the 24-year-old Felix, who previously had an underwhelming loan stint at Stamford Bridge during the second half of the 2022-23 season, scoring just four goals in 20 appearances.
Gallagher’s move to La Liga had initially encountered obstacles last week when a potential deal fell through. Chelsea and Atletico Madrid were unable to reach an agreement involving Atletico striker Samu Omorodion, who was initially considered as part of the transaction. Atletico needed to offload either Omorodion or another player to secure the funds required for Gallagher’s transfer. Despite these setbacks, Gallagher remained focused on the move, even training alone after returning to Chelsea last week, having been spotted in Spain ahead of his proposed £33 million transfer.
Gallagher leaves Chelsea after a significant spell with the club, during which he played 95 games and scored 10 goals. Last season, he made 50 appearances for the Blues, often stepping up as captain in the absence of Reece James. The 24-year-old also boasts a Europa League winner’s medal, having been part of Chelsea’s victorious 2019 campaign.
With Gallagher now at Atletico Madrid, attention will turn to whether Joao Felix will indeed make a return to Chelsea, as the two clubs continue to reshape their squads ahead of the new season.
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