Atletico Madrid has officially completed the signing of English midfielder Conor Gallagher from Chelsea for a reported fee of approximately £33 million. The 24-year-old has committed to a five-year contract with the Spanish La Liga club after prolonged negotiations.
Gallagher, who joined Chelsea’s academy at the age of six, made 90 appearances and scored 10 goals for the club. With his contract set to expire next summer, Chelsea opted to sell him this transfer window to avoid losing him on a free transfer.
In a related development, Atletico Madrid’s 24-year-old forward Joao Felix is expected to join Chelsea. The two clubs have reportedly agreed on a fee for the Portuguese international, who previously scored four goals in 20 appearances during a loan spell at Chelsea in 2023.
The delay in Gallagher’s transfer to Atletico was initially due to Chelsea’s unsuccessful attempts to sign Atletico striker Samu Omorodion. However, the agreement over Felix’s transfer paved the way for Gallagher’s move to Spain.
Gallagher’s career includes loan spells at Charlton, Swansea, West Brom, and Crystal Palace before he became a regular in Chelsea’s first team during the 2022-23 season. Since making his debut for the England national team in 2021, Gallagher has earned 18 caps and was part of the squad for both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.