Gallagher has signed a five-year contract at Metropolitano Stadium, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Chelsea have received a fixed £36m fee for the midfielder, after a pretty lengthy saga that at one point saw Atletico try to pull out of the deal. Plenty believe the 24-year-old has been treated harshly by Chelsea, the club he joined as an eight-year-old, and there’s no doubt he’ll be looking forward to a fresh start in Spain.
Chelsea have released a statement confirming Gallagher’s departure accompanied by a video montage of his best moments at the club. The statement reads: “Conor Gallagher has completed a permanent transfer to Atletico Madrid. We wish Conor the very best as he begins a new chapter in his career.”
Gallagher has also said a final goodbye to Chelsea fans in a post on social media. “To everyone at Chelsea, thank you for making my dreams come true,” he said. “It’s been an absolute honour every time I put on the shirt, and it was a dream come true to captain the team on many occasions. I loved every moment. These memories will last forever. I appreciate all the love and support from the fans. Hearing the chant of my name at the Bridge is a special feeling, and the banner you displayed [against Spurs] meant the world to me. Thank you for everything. I wish the club all the best for the future, and I hope to see you all soon at Stamford Bridge.”
Gallagher missed only one Premier League game for Chelsea last season but was told by new boss Enzo Maresca that he wouldn’t be a regular starter at Stamford Bridge, according to BBC Sport. That, and an unsatisfactory contract offer, was enough to convince the England international to leave his boyhood club.
Gallagher has become the fourth major signing of the summer for Atletico, after Alexander Sorloth, Robin Le Normand and Julian Alvarez, which takes their spending past the £150m ($195m) mark.
It has been widely reported that Gallagher’s exit will pave the way for former loanee Joao Felix to return to Chelsea on a permanent deal, with Atletico having already agreed to the Portuguese forward’s sale. Gallagher has already started training with Diego Simeone’s side and could be in line to make his Atletico debut against Girona in La Liga on Sunday.
