Julián Alvarez Eying Premier League Return | OneFootball

“Oh what a tangled web we weave,” wrote William Shakespeare, who doubtless would have some fine opinions about the brutal nature of soccer transfers. Our sources in the Spanish capital have whispered that “The Spider,” a.k.a. Julián Alvarez, will be up for sale come this summer.

The Stratospheric Rise of Julián Alvarez

Few players have experienced a climb as explosive as Alvarez. Born on the flat pampas of Argentina’s Córdoba Province, his talent was spotted early as he played for his local club: Atlético Calchín. Moving to River Plate at 16 years old, he made his senior debut only two years later. In 2021, he secured the top scorer award for the Argentinian Liga Professional, netting 18 times in 21 games.

Manchester City snapped him up right before his 22nd birthday for $24M, but loaned him back to River Plate. He moved to England in July, 2022 and immediately clicked within Pep Guardiola’s system. In his Premier League debut season, he scored 17 goals across all comps (including three in the Champions League) as Manchester City locked in their historic treble. The following season he played in 54 matches, scoring 19 times, as City added the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup trophies to their cabinet.

Yet all was not well. Competition for playing time with Norwegian goalbot Erling Haaland didn’t suit Alvarez, and he pushed for a move. Atlético Madrid happily smashed their previous transfer record, shelling out $87M for the 5’7” forward. And Alvarez has given good value, scoring 29 times (with 8 assists) in the 2024/25 season. Currently, he sits on 11g/5a in 27 games across all comps for the Rojiblancos.

What We Know

Club insiders from the Atléti camps tell us that Alvarez seeks a return to England and the Premier League, despite a current contract that runs through 2030. The ever-opportunistic Chelsea, whose hunger for talent is insatiable, is rumored to be making inquiries. Initial offers are reportedly floating in the $100M range, which would give Atlético Madrid a decent profit.