Atletico Madrid have finalized the signing of Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez for £81.5 million on a six-year contract. The Spanish club will initially pay £64.4 million (75 million euros), with an additional £17.1 million (20 million euros) available in potential add-ons for the 24-year-old Argentina international.
This transfer marks a record sale for Manchester City, surpassing the £50 million fee they received from Chelsea for Raheem Sterling in 2022. Alvarez joined City from Argentine side River Plate in January 2022 for £14.1 million.
Reflecting on his time at City, Alvarez stated that the club will always "have a special place" in his heart. "Today I say goodbye to this amazing club, with a lot of emotion," he expressed. "These have been two very special years. During this time, I have grown and learnt a lot - both as a player and as a person."
Alvarez enjoyed a successful tenure at City, winning six major trophies during his two-year stay, including a treble in his debut season and the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, which he won midway through the season. He concluded his time at Manchester having scored 36 goals in 106 appearances.
City's director of football, Txiki Begiristain, praised Alvarez, noting, "It has been a pleasure to work with him. The trophies he has won already tell their own story - he is a winner." He added, "I look forward to watching him develop further in the remainder of his career."
As Manchester City prepares for their Premier League opener against Chelsea on Sunday, Atletico Madrid will make their La Liga debut against Villarreal on August 19.
