Spain international Grimaldo swaps Bayer Leverkusen for Atlético Madrid | OneFootball

Alejandro Grimaldo is set for his first experience at the highest level of Spanish club football after completing a move to Atlético de Madrid at the age of 30.

The Spain international has left  Bayer Leverkusen to join Diego Simeone’s side on a long-term deal running until 2030, with the transfer fee reportedly reaching up to €25 million including add-ons.

A graduate of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Grimaldo never made a senior appearance for the Catalan giants and instead began his professional journey abroad, joining Benfica in 2016. He went on to spend seven-and-a-half successful seasons in Portugal, winning multiple league titles and establishing himself as one of Europe’s most consistent attacking full-backs.

His reputation grew further after a move to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, where he played a key role in ending Bayern Munich’s domestic dominance under Xabi Alonso, contributing to a historic Bundesliga triumph.

On the international stage, Grimaldo was part of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning squad, featuring in two matches during the tournament, and remains in contention for the 2026 World Cup.

Now, after three years in Germany, he joins Atlético Madrid aiming to finally cement his place at the elite level of Spanish football and add further silverware to his already decorated career.