Depay joins Atlético as fourth high-profile Barça signing - Carrasco heading to Camp Nou?

There is not a transfer window in which Memphis Depay is not changing clubs, it seems. After joining Barcelona from Olympique Lyon 18 months ago, the Dutch striker is once again on the move after completing a transfer to Atlético Madrid. Following a statement from both clubs, the Netherlands international has completed a €3 million move to the Spanish capital, where he has signed a contract until 2025. 

In exchange for letting Depay leave for a nominal fee, Atletico have agreed to a "preferential but not compulsory purchase option" that would allow Barcelona to sign winger Yannick Carrasco at the end of the seson. Whether or not the Camp Nou side will make an offer and sign the Atleti forward remains to be seen. 

Depay to Atletico Madrid – Carrasco set to go the other way?

Now completed, Depay becomes the fourth high-profile player to join Atlético for a relatively low fee from Barcelona. Atleti purchased David Villa for just €2.1m in 2013 and Luis Suárez for €9m in 2020. Both strikers would later become key players in Atleti’s championship seasons in 2014 and 2021. 

Then there is the case of Antoine Griezmann. The French forward joined Barcelona from Atleti for €120m in 2019 but returned on a €10m loan fee in the summer of 2021. Griezmann’s deal will be made permanent for another €20m this summer, gifting Atleti a €90m transfer profit. In Depay, Atleti have now signed another high-profile player for a low fee from their direct competitor.