Grimaldo joins Atlético de Madrid in a €20 million deal

Left-back Alejandro Grimaldo is leaving Bayer Leverkusen and has agreed to join Atlético de Madrid in a transfer valued at around €20 million. The deal runs until 2030. At 30, the Spaniard returns to his home country after two years in the Bundesliga that turned him into one of the most decisive defenders in Europe.

What Leverkusen loses with his departure

Grimaldo was a central piece in Xabi Alonso’s system during the 2023-24 season, when Leverkusen won the domestic double: the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal. More than a reliable full-back, he operated as a second number ten down the left – involved in build-up to finishing, crosses and set pieces.

The numbers justify the enthusiasm. Since the start of the 2023-24 campaign, Grimaldo has racked up 71 goal contributions, 20 more than any other defender in the five major leagues, with assists (41) and chances created (326). For a defender, these figures border on the absurd.

There is another eye-catching indicator: nine direct free-kick goals over the last three seasons. More than any player in the continent’s five biggest leagues over the same period.

Why Atlético is the right destination

The colchoneros are undergoing a reshaping of their left flank and are betting on the player’s experience and versatility to strengthen both the defence and the attacking output down that channel. Diego Simeone tends to make use of full-backs capable of overlapping runs – Grimaldo fits that profile better than most players available on the market.

On top of that, the timing is politically favourable. The Spaniard is part of Spain’s squad for the World Cup and returns to LaLiga in peak form. Playing at home again, under the spotlight of Spanish football, could be exactly the push he needed to cement his name among the best full-backs in the world. The long contract – until 2030 – suggests that Atlético see him not as a short-term solution but as a pillar for the years ahead.