Alejandro Grimaldo set to join Atlético Madrid | OneFootball

Alejandro Grimaldo (30) has already agreed personal terms with Atlético Madrid and now, according to information from Matteo Moretto, the Spanish side are expected to reach a total agreement with Bayer Leverkusen, as early as Wednesday.

As per multiple publications, Leverkusen duo Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes are both in Madrid to accelerate negotiations between the two parties, although Leverkusen – who value Grimaldo between €25m and €30m – are standing firm on their asking price.

“It always depends on the market,” Rolfes told Kicker, when asked about the price tag. “And the market for a left-back is not so simple.”

It is, though, known that Grimaldo would like to play in LaLiga before his retirement. 

“I’ve always said it: I want to return to LaLiga,” explained Grimaldo. “That’s one of my goals. I’m very happy at Bayer Leverkusen, but I’ve always said that I want to return to LaLiga, and some day I will.”

Grimaldo last went public with his intention to play in his homeland in August 2025, telling Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. “It doesn’t have to be this year. It could be next year. It could be in two years. It could even be in five years.”

What this means for Bayer Leverkusen’s summer

Grimaldo’s departure is one that will certainly be felt. The Spaniard, who turns 31 in September, arrived in Germany under Xabi Alonso ahead of the 2023/24 season and soon established himself as a key player. Playing 145 matches across all competitions for Die Werkself, scoring 30 goals and providing 45 assists, Grimaldo played an instrumental role in helping secure a Bundesliga and DFB Pokal title in 2023/24, going an entire domestic campaign unbeaten under Alonso.

After Alonso’s departure, Grimaldo’s numbers dwindled but he finished 2025/26 with 13 goals and 11 assists in 43 matches under Kasper Hjulmand. To replace the Spaniard’s numbers at left-back will be nigh-on impossible for Leverkusen, and so, under new head coach Carles Martínez Novell, it will be interesting to see how B04 go about doing that.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder