Atletico Madrid Signs Alex Baena from Villarreal for €50 Million

Atletico Madrid has signed Spanish midfielder Alex Baena from Villarreal on a five-year contract reportedly worth around 50 million euros. Baena, 23, developed through Villarreal's youth academy, made his senior debut in 2020, and had a loan spell at Girona before becoming a key player for Villarreal, contributing 26 goals and 40 assists in 148 appearances. In the 2024-25 LaLiga season, Baena recorded 16 goal involvements and led the league with 95 created chances, outperforming Atletico's Antoine Griezmann significantly. Internationally, he has represented Spain at all youth levels, debuted for the senior team in 2023 with a goal, and was part of Spain's Euro 2024 winning squad as well as their 2024 Olympic gold medal team. His arrival is part of Atletico's summer rebuild under Diego Simeone, aiming to strengthen their attack, with additional potential signings like defender Cristian Romero reportedly underway. Baena expressed excitement about joining one of Europe's elite clubs, marking a major step forward in his career.