Atletico Madrid complete signing of England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Chelsea

Atletico Madrid has officially acquired England midfielder Conor Gallagher (24) from Chelsea on a five-year contract, as announced by both LaLiga and Premier League clubs on Wednesday.

Gallagher, who joined Chelsea at the age of eight, has committed to Atletico until 2029, with the club reportedly paying 42 million euros for the talented midfielder.

In an official statement on their website, Chelsea expressed their best wishes for Gallagher as he embarks on this new phase of his career.

Gallagher's early professional journey included loan spells at Premier League teams West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, and he did not make his debut for Chelsea until 2022.

During the previous season, Gallagher was a key player, starting 37 matches in the Premier League and missing only one due to suspension, while also serving as club captain for a significant portion of the season due to injuries to Reece James and Ben Chilwell.

With one year remaining on his Chelsea contract, new manager Enzo Maresca had recently indicated that Gallagher was offered an extension.

He made his debut for the England national team in 2021, earning 18 caps and participating in five matches during Euro 2024, where England finished as runners-up after a 2-1 defeat to Spain.

Gallagher, along with Atletico's other recent signings, will be presented later on Wednesday at a fan event at the Metropolitano stadium, featuring former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez as the main attraction.

Atletico Madrid has now invested approximately 200 million euros in new players, including Spain defender Robin Le Normand and Norway striker Alexander Sorloth.

Following a disappointing 2-2 draw against Villarreal in their LaLiga season opener on Monday, Atletico will face last season's surprise team, Girona, on Sunday.