Atlético Madrid complete Kondogbia transfer
Geoffrey Kondogbia has joined Atlético Madrid until 2024 as replacement for Thomas; and became the latest high-profile player to be sold by Valencia.
Atlético Madrid have completed the signing of Geoffrey Kondogbia from Valencia. He joins as the replacement for Thomas Partey, signing until June 2024.
Atleti lost Thomas to Arsenal on deadline day, 5 October, and although the transfer window has since shut, the club was given an extra month to find a replacement as the Ghanaian midfielder's release clause had been triggered. As Atlético could only sign a free agent or a player already registered in LaLiga, their options were limited, but Kondogbia emerged as a likely target early on in their search.
Kondogbia transfer fee
The 27-year-old's fee has not been disclosed, but club sources have told AS that the fee was for 10 million euros, plus an additional two million in add-ons and 10% of any future transfer fee if he is sold on during the next three years while in Valencia, a figure double that amount has been mentioned.
Valencia tried to block the move from going ahead earlier and Kondogbia responded with a scathing attack on the club's chairman Anil Murthy. "Having already destroyed an ambitious project, you had to deceive your coach and, finally, me. Thank you, Anil Murthy," he wrote on Instagram on 15 October.
Valencia have been in crisis in recent months, with Murthy and those in charge offloading a host of key first-team players in cut-price deals, including Ferrán Torres, Rodrigo Moreno, Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin, the latter pair moving to local rivals Villarreal. Coach Javi Gracia has also been at the centre of controversy – after seeing the club fail to live up to apparent promises with regards to recruitment, rumours suggested he was contemplating quitting after just a few months in the job.
Costa and Kondogbia
Kondogbia's move to Atlético will see him link up with Diego Costa, having been involved in ugly confrontation with the Spain international in 2013 when the midfielder played for Sevilla. At the time, Costa denied racially abusing Kondogbia, who had been sent off late in the match for kicking out at the striker.