Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann re-joins Atlético from Barcelona, other deadline day deals
In what might sum up to be a transfer window of shock returns, Atletico Madrid have re-signed the former striker Antoine Griezmann, from Barcelona.
Griezmann who left Atletico under acrimonious circumstances which nearly split relations between both La Liga clubs, agreed to return to his old club on a season’s loan with an obligation for the transfer to become permanent for €40m.
This season’s transfer shock returns include; Inter Milan’s Ashley Young rejoining his boyhood club Aston Villa after leaving them for Manchester United; Romelu Lukaku returning to Chelsea; Cristiano Ronaldo making a comeback to Manchester United; and now, France striker, Griezmann retracing his steps back to Atletico under two seasons after leaving them.
Griezmann left Atlético for Barcelona in a €120m deal in 2019 but has failed to live up to expectations. He has scored 22 goals in 74 La Liga games for the Catalan club.
A swap involving João Felix had been mooted but Barcelona instead signed Luuk de Jong from Sevilla. Griezmann spent five successful seasons at Atlético after joining from Real Sociedad, his goals return markedly better than at the Camp Nou, scoring 94 times in 180 league games.
Other transfer deadline day deals
Arsenal:
Arsenal sign 22-year-old Japan international, defender Takehiro Tomiyasu from Italian club, Bologna for €18m.
Arsenal loan out Héctor Bellerín to Real Betis of Spain; winger Reiss Nelson moves to Dutch club, Feyenoord on a season-long loan deal, and goalkeeper Alex Rúnarsson joins Belgian club OH Leuven, also on season loan.
Chelsea:
Chelsea sign midfielder Saúl Ñíguez from Atletico Madrid
Barcelona
Barcelona sell right-back Emerson Royal to Tottenham on a five-year deal for €25m.
Barcelona sold midfielder Ilaix Moriba to RB Leipzig for an initial €16m, with up to €6m to follow.
Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have agreed to salary reductions to get the new signing Sergio Agüero registered amid financial fair play regulations.
The defender Gerard Piqué previously took a similar step that allowed Memphis Depay, Eric García and Rey Manaj to register with La Liga. Manaj has joined Spezia on loan.
