Atlético fills gap with €20m Grimaldo, under Leverkusen's floor

Atlético Madrid, seeking to plug a left‑back void in Diego Simeone’s system, have moved for 30‑year‑old Spaniard Alejandro Grimaldo. The transfer from Bayer Leverkusen is reported at around €20 million, with paperwork slated for completion today and a contract running to 2029.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Grimaldo will complete his move to Atlético Madrid today, citing a fee of around €20 million. Earlier reports indicated that personal terms between the player and Los Colchoneros had already been agreed, leaving only the financial gap to resolve.

Spanish outlets have reported total valuations between €20 million and €23 million including add‑ons, while Sky Germany and suggested a structure of €22 million fixed plus €3 million in bonuses. Romano’s “around €20 million” description most plausibly refers to the guaranteed fixed element rather than the potential ceiling.

Bayer Leverkusen entered negotiations with an internal floor of roughly €30 million, reflecting Grimaldo’s contract until 2027 and his role in the 2023‑24 Bundesliga title under Xabi Alonso. CEO Fernando Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes travelled to Madrid to finalise the deal, accepting a lower fee as Grimaldo signalled he would not extend beyond 2027.

Grimaldo arrives as Atlético’s first major defensive signing of the summer, addressing a specific structural problem on the left side of Simeone’s back line. His crossing ability, set‑piece delivery and capacity to operate as an auxiliary wing‑back suit the system, and his contract runs to 2029 with an option for a further year.

Atlético had previously tracked Marc Cucurella as an alternative left‑back, but Real Madrid’s pursuit of the Chelsea defender forced sporting director Mateu Alemany to concentrate resources on the Leverkusen route. The club also faces departures of Sørloth, Almada and Giménez, which will influence how aggressively they can target further summer additions.

For Bayer Leverkusen, Grimaldo cost nothing when he joined from Benfica in 2023, so the €20‑25 million fee represents a pure capital gain on a player who became central to their title success. The next step will be the formal announcement from both clubs and Grimaldo’s unveiling at the Metropolitano, potentially freeing Alemany to pursue midfield targets.