Atleti recruit Lenglet vows to fight for Simeone
Barcelona announced French defender Clement Lenglet has joined Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan.
Atletico Madrid completed the loan signing of French defender Clement Lenglet from Barcelona, with no option to buy, as a reinforcement for the left side of defence after Mario Hermoso's contract expiration last June.
Lenglet, who fits the profile needed to bolster this position, will immediately join the team's training sessions. Atletico will cover €3 million of the player's salary, with an additional €1 million in potential variables as part of the deal, according to sources close to the negotiation.
To register the 29 year-old French center-back with LaLiga under the salary cap—alongside goalkeeper Juan Musso, its next and final signing—Atleti needed to offload three players. One of those moves has already happened, with Samu Omorodion being transferred to Porto, leaving Santiago Mourino and likely Arthur Vermeeren, who is expected to go on loan to Leipzig, still to depart.
Lenglet passed his medical with Atleti on the weekend and watched the team's 3-0 victory over Girona from the stands at the Civitas Metropolitano, with goals from Antonio Griezmann, Marcos Llorente, and Koke.
"An international French central defender, aged 29, Lenglet is known for his strong ball-playing skills and anticipation, with extensive experience not only in his home country but also in the Premier League and LaLiga," an Atleti statement read.
Pending the acquisition of Argentine goalkeeper Musso from Atalanta to replace Horatiu Moldovan, Lenglet is Atleti’s fifth signing this season, joining defender Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad); midfielder Conor Gallagher (Chelsea); and forwards Alexander Sorloth (Villarreal) and Julián Álvarez (Manchester City). Additionally, Giuliano Simeone returns from his loan spell.
These six additions contrast with the departures of goalkeeper Horatiu Moldovan; defenders Mario Hermoso, Gabriel Paulista, and Stefan Savic; midfielder Saul Niguez; and forwards Memphis Depay and Alvaro Morata, alongside Joao Felix, Carlos Martin, Omorodion, and Caglar Soyuncu, who were all on loan last season.
Lenglet, who began his career at French club Nancy, played the 2017-2018 season with Sevilla before moving to Barcelona, where he made 160 appearances and scored seven goals over four seasons (2018-2022).
However, the central defender has not been part of Barcelona's plans for some time, having been loaned out to Tottenham and Aston Villa in the past two seasons. Lenglet, who extended his contract until 2026 during the final week of former president Josep Maria Bartomeu's tenure, has one of the highest salaries in the squad. His move to Atleti will help reduce Barcelona's wage bill, which is still preventing it from registering Dani Olmo due to financial fair play regulations.
In related moves, Barcelona also announced last week the transfers of Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester City and reserve team center-back Mikayil Faye to Rennes, as well as the loan of Vitor Roque to Real Betis.
