Atletico Madrid Most Expensive Signings of All Time
The most expensive signing in Atletico Madrid history covered on this page is Joao Felix, who arrived from Benfica in 2019 for a reported fee of about 126M euros. Across the top five record signings listed below, Atletico Madrid have spent about 330M euros across these five signings alone. Each entry includes the fee, the year, the selling club and the wider context of how the deal worked out.
Atletico Madrid record signings: the era
The growing ambition under Diego Simeone.
Top 5 most expensive Atletico Madrid signings ever
Joao Felix
From Benfica · 2019
about 126M euros
reported fee
Atletico Madrid triggered the release clause of Joao Felix at Benfica in 2019, signing the Portuguese forward for a reported 126 million euros at age 19. The fee remains the most expensive in the history of the club. Felix produced moments of clear quality but never settled into the structured system of Diego Simeone, and after a series of loan spells away from Madrid he was eventually sold permanently to Chelsea.
Thomas Lemar
From Monaco · 2018
about 72M euros
reported fee
Atletico signed Thomas Lemar from Monaco in 2018 for a fee reported at around 72 million euros, after his strong performances in the Monaco team that had reached the Champions League semi-finals the previous year. The signing did not work out as planned. Lemar struggled for consistent form throughout his Atletico career and his time at the club is widely viewed as a missed opportunity for a player of clear talent.
Diego Costa
From Chelsea · 2017
about 60M euros
reported fee
Atletico Madrid signed Diego Costa back from Chelsea in 2017 for a reported fee of around 60 million euros, completing a return to the club where he had previously been a key figure. The deal was the most expensive purchase the club had ever made at that point, beating their record for an outgoing player and signalling the start of a more ambitious spending phase. Costa contributed important goals before eventually moving on.
Marcos Llorente
From Real Madrid · 2019
about 40M euros
reported fee
Atletico Madrid signed Marcos Llorente from city rivals Real Madrid in 2019 for a reported 40 million euros. He has been transformed under Diego Simeone from a defensive midfielder into a versatile attacking force, including a celebrated performance in a Champions League knockout tie against Liverpool. The deal is widely regarded as one of the best modern signings in the history of the club.
Kevin Gameiro
From Sevilla · 2016
about 32M euros
reported fee
Kevin Gameiro joined Atletico Madrid from Sevilla in 2016 for a reported fee of around 32 million euros, a record purchase for the club at the time. The French forward contributed important goals over two seasons before moving on to Valencia, and his arrival marked the start of a sustained period of growing transfer spending at the Metropolitano.
How Atletico Madrid have spent in the transfer market
Atletico Madrid have historically been a careful spender, building their identity around organisation, intensity and the man-management of Diego Simeone rather than around record-breaking transfers. That changed gradually in the second half of the 2010s, as the move to the Metropolitano stadium and a deeper commercial base allowed higher fees. The Joao Felix deal in 2019 was a clear statement of new ambition, and the simultaneous arrival of Marcos Llorente illustrated that the club still hunts shrewd value alongside its blockbuster signings. The hit-rate has been mixed: Felix and Lemar are now seen as warning signs against paying maximum fees, while Llorente and the returning Diego Costa landed well. The pattern is one of a club caught between two identities, the traditional, value-driven Atletico and a new, big-money version, still trying to find the balance.
Atletico Madrid record signings, at a glance
| # | Player | From | Year | Reported fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joao Felix | Benfica | 2019 | about 126M euros |
| 2 | Thomas Lemar | Monaco | 2018 | about 72M euros |
| 3 | Diego Costa | Chelsea | 2017 | about 60M euros |
| 4 | Marcos Llorente | Real Madrid | 2019 | about 40M euros |
| 5 | Kevin Gameiro | Sevilla | 2016 | about 32M euros |
Frequently asked questions about Atletico Madrid record signings
What is the most expensive signing in Atletico Madrid history?▼
The most expensive signing in Atletico Madrid history covered on this page is Joao Felix, who arrived from Benfica in 2019 for a reported fee of about 126M euros.
How much have Atletico Madrid spent on these signings combined?▼
Across the five signings listed on this page, Atletico Madrid have spent about 330M euros across these five signings alone. Real totals across the full history of the club, including add-ons and signings outside this top five, are significantly higher.
Are all these Atletico Madrid signings still at the club?▼
No. Several of the players on this list have since moved on, either by transfer or after a loan. Each entry above describes the current status and the broader context of how the deal worked out.
Why do transfer fees vary so much between reports?▼
Transfer fees are often reported as headline numbers, but the real total can include guaranteed payments, performance-based add-ons, payments to agents and player image-rights deals. That is why fees on this page are framed as reported approximations rather than confirmed figures.
What is Atletico Madrid's overall transfer strategy?▼
Atletico Madrid have historically been a careful spender, building their identity around organisation, intensity and the man-management of Diego Simeone rather than around record-breaking transfers.
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