Conor Gallagher ends 16-year stay at Chelsea with £33m transfer to Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid have announced the signing of Conor Gallagher from Chelsea.

The England midfielder joined the west London club at the age of eight and made 95 appearances after his debut in 2022, but has now left for a £33.7million fee after being deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Enzo Maresca.

Maresca is said to have told Gallagher that he would be a bit-part player in the Italian’s debut season in the Stamford Bridge dugout, despite the 24-year-old captaining the side on several occasions last year.

Chelsea offered a new two-year contract, which was rejected to prompt the player’s exit ahead of a possible free transfer next summer. He has signed a five-year contract in the Spanish capital.

The sale continues the Blues’ policy under the Boehly-Clearlake ownership of selling on academy products, who count as pure profit in terms of the Premier League’s financial rules having signed for free as youngsters.

“Conor Gallagher has completed a permanent transfer to Atletico Madrid. We wish Conor the very best as he begins a new chapter in his career,” read a club statement.