Official: Kessie back for Atalanta after nine years as free agent | OneFootball

Franck Kessie has officially signed for Atalanta as a free agent, a return to the club where he started his Italian career, swinging back after nine years.

The midfielder was looking for a European adventure after three years with Al-Ahli, having moved from Milan to Barcelona as a free agent in 2022.

Kessie returns to Serie A for Atalanta

Franck Kessie salutes in front of the Atalanta logo (@atalanta_bc)

He was in advanced negotiations with Juventus, only for the talks to collapse this morning, and had also been in contact with Roma.

Atalanta were not even on the radar, but within hours of the initial discussions being reported, he had put pen to paper on a new contract.

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – APRIL 29: Franck Kessie of Al-Ahli Saudi reacts during the AFC Champions League Elite Semi Final between Al Hilal and Al Ahli at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on April 29, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

It is a remarkable turn of events, because Kessie started his Italian career with the Atalanta youth academy in January 2015.

He graduated to the senior squad and impressed enough to earn a €32m transfer to Milan in the summer of 2017.

TORONTO, ONTARIO – JUNE 20: Franck Kessie #8 of Cote d’Ivoire celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Germany and Cote D’Ivoire at Toronto Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Still young enough to make a significant impact in Serie A and the Conference League, Kessie is set to turn 30 in December.

There were 31 senior appearances for La Dea in his first stint, where he scored seven goals and provided four assists.