Report: Atletico close to signing Valencia's Kondogbia for €17M
Atletico Madrid are a few details away from signing Valencia midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia for around €17 million, sources told ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez.
Kondogbia is expected to replace Thomas Partey, who completed a move to Arsenal after the Gunners activated his release clause.
Though the transfer window closed on Oct. 5, Atletico received an additional 30 days to sign a replacement. La Liga clubs are allowed to make signings outside the transfer window when they lose players by way of their release clause.
Kondogbia's relationship with Valencia had already broken down due to a number of sales that weakened the club and caused uproar among supporters. Los Che sold club captain Dani Parejo and midfielder Francis Coquelin to rivals Villarreal, and cashed in on winger Ferran Torres and forward Rodrigo Moreno.
Manager Javi Gracia threatened to resign in protest.
"Having already destroyed an ambitious project, you had to deceive your coach and, finally, me. Thank you, Anil Murthy," Kondogbia wrote on Instagram, according to Kirkland and Faez.
A defensive midfielder with strong tackling and dribbling ability, the 27-year-old would complete for minutes with Hector Herrera, loanee Lucas Torreira, and the versatile Marcos Llorente.
Kondogbia joined Valencia in 2017 after an indifferent spell in Italy with Inter Milan.