The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gallagher

  • Chelsea  trade Gallagher with Joao Felix from Atletico

    Chelsea  trade Gallagher with Joao Felix from Atletico

    Chelsea have completed the signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth £46.3m, while Conor Gallagher has moved in the opposite direction for £36m.

    The Blues have paid a £42m fixed fee for Felix, plus £4.3m in add-ons, while the Portugal international has signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

    The 24-year-old returns to Chelsea on a permanent deal having spent six months on loan during the second half of the 2022/23 season, scoring four goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

    Felix spent last season on loan at Barcelona where he scored 10 goals in 44 appearances.

    Felix said: “I’m really happy to be back at Chelsea and I can’t wait to get started. I can see some familiar faces from the last time I was here, which is always nice.

    “I loved my time here before and I told my friends and family that I’d love to return to the Premier League one day. To do that with Chelsea is a great feeling and I’m excited to be back.”

    Read Also: Atletico Madrid sign Gallagher from Chelsea

    The ex-Benfica player becomes Chelsea’s 10th summer signing following the arrivals of Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Aaron Anselmino, Filip Jorgensen and Pedro Neto.

    Felix’s arrival also takes Chelsea’s spending to £202.6m making them the Premier League’s top spenders this summer.

    The west London club’s spending, however, may not be over yet as it is understood they will try to sign a new striker during this window following the completion of the Felix deal.

    Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has been a target all summer, but at the moment Chelsea would not sign him on a permanent deal.

  • Atletico Madrid sign Gallagher from Chelsea

    Atletico Madrid sign Gallagher from Chelsea

    Atletico Madrid have signed England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Chelsea for a fee believed to be in the region of £33m.

    The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Spanish top-flight club.

    Gallagher joined Chelsea at the age of six and went on to make 90 appearances, scoring 10 goals.

    He had entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge so Chelsea wanted to sell now to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.

    Atletico forward Joao Felix, also 24, is set to move in the other direction after Chelsea agreed a fee in principle for the Portugal international.

    Read Also: Gallagher back at Chelsea as Atletico move stalls

    The collapse of Chelsea’s talks to sign Atletico striker Samu Omorodion had delayed Gallagher’s move to Spain, but the Felix deal frees up the required funds for Atletico to complete the transfer.

    Gallagher spent five days in a hotel in Madrid earlier this month expecting a deal before flying back to London when the move stalled.

  • Gallagher back at Chelsea as Atletico move stalls

    Gallagher back at Chelsea as Atletico move stalls

    Conor Gallagher is expected to return to training at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground on Wednesday after landing back in London with his Atletico Madrid transfer in the balance.

    The England international, 24, was pictured in the La Liga club’s Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday and spent five days in a hotel in Madrid but has been unable to complete his £33m transfer.

    His move was halted because Chelsea’s £34.5m deal to sign Spanish striker Samu Omorodion collapsed over personal terms on Sunday.

    The Spanish club need to make one major sale to fund their move for Gallagher after signing Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez for £81.5m on Monday.

    Gallagher’s move is not considered off but remains under threat of collapse.

    An alternative deal for Chelsea to sign Portugal forward Joao Felix from Atletico could salvage Gallagher’s move but a fee must first be agreed.

    Felix is ready to return to Chelsea after spending six months on loan at the club in 2023.

    Read Also: Gallagher agrees £33m Atletico Madrid move

    However, if a fee cannot be agreed for Felix then Gallagher’s transfer will likely collapse.

    Chelsea want to make the sale to avoid losing Gallagher on a free transfer, with just 11 months left on his contract.

    Gallagher, who captained Chelsea for much of last season, made five appearances at Euro 2024.

    On Saturday, Atletico had posted a picture of Gallagher at their stadium saying he was there to “finalise his transfer”.

    BBC

  • Gallagher agrees £33m Atletico Madrid move

    Gallagher agrees £33m Atletico Madrid move

    Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has agreed to join Atletico Madrid.

    The Blues had accepted a £33m offer from the Spanish side last week but there were significant concerns about whether the England international was interested in making the move.

    But on Sunday night Gallagher, 24, told Atletico officials he is happy to make the switch.

    The England international is now expected to fly and complete his medical and contract signing, which would end his 18-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

    Chelsea had offered a two-year deal with an option for an extra year, but it was deemed unfavourable by Gallagher due to both the length of the contract and the inferior squad role offered.

    Read Also: Gallagher goal gives Chelsea boss Potter first win

    A natural divide had emerged between Gallagher and Chelsea as he was believed to be a poor fit for new manager Enzo Maresca’s possession-based style of play and would not be a regular starter under the Italian.

    Gallagher, who played five matches at Euro 2024, has less than one year left on his current Chelsea deal.

    Chelsea preferred to sell Gallagher overseas than to an English rival so allowed Atletico to achieve a cut-price deal.