Barcelona have completed the signing of Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann. The French international had a 120 million euro release which the Camp Nou side are believed to have triggered.
It had been expected to be a straightforward summer switch. Back in May, Griezmann announced he would be seeking a new challenge away from the Wanda Metropolitano.
The La Liga champions had courted his signature the summer prior. Everything appeared set in stone until Griezmann announced last summer he will be staying at Atletico Madrid.
He subsequently signed a new five-year deal with the Rojiblancos but has now made another u-turn this summer. Barcelona announced on their site that Griezmann will be joining on a five-year deal and has a release clause of 800 million euros.
A statement on the club website read: FC Barcelona has paid the 120 million euro buyout clause to release Antoine Griezmann from Atlético Madrid.
The player will sign a contract with his new club for the next five seasons, through to 30 June 2024, with a buyout clause of 800 million euros.
We will shortly be publishing the full schedule for the presentation of Antoine Griezmann as a new member of the Barça first team.
You were waiting for this. pic.twitter.com/vVR0Prmy0b
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 12, 2019
Griezmann puts an end to his five-year stay at Atletico – a team he joined from Real Sociedad – to pen another five-year contract with Barcelona.
The France international made 257 appearances for Atletico, winning the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2018.
