Alejandro Grimaldo has fulfilled a long-held ambition by transferring to Atletico Madrid from Bayer Leverkusen, signing a four-year contract with the Espagnol club. The left-back, currently part of Spain’s World Cup squad, expressed his satisfaction at joining one of Spain’s top teams during a press conference at Spain’s training base.
“For a long time, my goal was to return to Spain. From the start of this summer transfer window, my agent knew where I wanted to go, and my first choice was Atletico,” Grimaldo explained. He added, “I’m very happy to be there. Atletico Madrid is one of Spain’s biggest clubs, and I am joining a Champions League team that competes for every trophy. That has been my goal for a long time, and today I’ve achieved it.”
From Barcelona to Bundesliga Champion, Now Back in Spain
Grimaldo’s football journey began in the youth academy of Barcelona before he moved to Benfica in 2016. In 2023, he transferred to Bayer Leverkusen, where he played a crucial role in the club’s Bundesliga title-winning campaign in 2024 under coach Xabi Alonso. Known for his attacking prowess and expertise in set-pieces, Grimaldo has scored six free-kicks over the past three seasons, highlighting his offensive contribution from the left-back position.
Atletico Madrid’s interest in strengthening their defensive options came after their pursuit of Marc Cucurella, who ultimately signed for Real Madrid earlier in June. With Cucurella occupying the left-back spot for Spain throughout the World Cup group stages, Grimaldo has yet to see game time in the tournament. Nevertheless, his arrival at Atletico adds depth and quality to coach Diego Simeone’s squad as they aim for success in domestic and European competitions.