Conor Gallagher’s turbulent time at Chelsea appears to be nearing its conclusion, as the midfielder is set to fly to Spain on Tuesday night to finalize his transfer to Atletico Madrid.
The two clubs have agreed on a deal for the England international, valued at €42 million, £32.3 million, which also includes an undisclosed sell-on clause benefiting Chelsea.
Personal terms have already been agreed upon between Atletico Madrid and the 24-year-old, who is expected to sign a long-term contract with the La Liga club at the Metropolitano Stadium before the transfer window closes next week.
Recently, the move was in jeopardy when Chelsea’s pursuit of Atletico forward Samu Omorodion fell through, a transfer linked to Gallagher’s departure.
This setback forced the midfielder to return to London, where he trained alone as Chelsea worked to resolve the situation.
However, with the Premier League club now nearing a deal for Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid, the path is clear for Gallagher to head in the opposite direction.
David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that Gallagher is scheduled to fly to Spain on Tuesday evening to complete his transfer to Atletico, bringing an end to his recent struggles at Chelsea.
Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news on his X account, stating, “Conor Gallagher will be presented as new Atlético player on Wednesday at the Metropolitano stadium. He’s already signed his contract valid until 2029, also done all medical tests so just formally being announced in next 24h.”
Gallagher’s situation is emblematic of the turmoil at Chelsea since Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly assumed control of the club in 2022.
A product of Chelsea’s academy and a favourite among the Stamford Bridge supporters, Gallagher is being forced out due to the mismanagement of the squad.
The club is under pressure to sell players to meet profit and sustainability regulations, and the funds from this deal will count as pure profit.
The way Gallagher has been treated this summer has been widely criticized, with some suggesting that it could deter future players from joining Chelsea under the current ownership.
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