AC Milan and Atletico Madrid have reached agreement for the sale of Theo Hernandez after the player closed the door on a move to Saudi Arabia.
Milan hoped to cash-in on Hernandez by selling him to Al-Hilal but the move faltered after the French defender chose to continue his journey in Europe. He prioritised a move back to Madrid and, per Estadio Deportivo, a deal is on the verge of being signed with the terms finalised and agreed upon by all the parties.
Diego Simeone’s side ultimately benefited from Hernandez’s final decision to remain in Europe and reject a lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia. Although Milan were unimpressed by Atleti’s initial offer, they were compelled to accept the lower bid given the time constraints. With the French defender’s contract running until 2026, the Italian club opted to accept Los Colchoneros’ offer rather than risk losing him for free.
The clubs have agreed upon a transfer fee of €23 million (£19m/$26m) in addition to bonuses. Atleti has secured a favourable deal, reportedly paying €15m (£13m/$17m) less than Hernandez’s €40m(£34m/$46m) market value. With this deal closed, the Spanish club has now successfully completed three transfers, the other two being the permanent signing of Clement Lenglet from Barcelona and Juan Musso from Atalanta.
Simeone’s side have landed in Los Angeles as they prepare to kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Champions League winners PSG on 16 June.
