New Delhi: Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk is edging closer to a move to 11-time Spanish champions Atletico Madrid after an impressive debut season at Girona. The Ukrainian moved to the La Liga last summer, joining City Football Group’s Girona from SC Dnipro-1 back in his homeland. The 27-year-old had a dream debut season at the club, guiding them to third place in the league.
Dovbyk was the main force behind Girona’s fairytale season as the Spanish minnows secured a berth in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. The striker scored 24 goals in the league, finishing as the top-scorer in La Liga including a hattrick against Granada in the final match of the season that handed the Pichichi Award to him over Villareal’s Alexander Sorloth.
He became Girona’s most expensive signing last summer as the club spent €7 million on him and inserted a €40 million release clause in his contract. Atletico Madrid have decided to trigger the release clause, ensuring Girona get a return of more than five times their investment. He’s already agreed personal terms with the club, meaning the move should be finalized in the coming days.
🚨🔴⚪️ Atlético Madrid are closing in on deal to sign Artem Dovbyk from Girona.
Final details being sorted on payment structure to match €40m release clause then agreement sealed.
Dovbyk has already agreed on personal terms, ready to move.
Here we go, soon ⏳🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/MNnQ7wVRIP
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 23, 2024
Dovbyk had a brilliant first season in Spanish football as he scored 25 and assisted another 10 in just 41 games last season, earning him a call-up to Ukraine’s squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. The striker didn’t enjoy the same success on International duty as Ukranie had a dismal time in Germany, finishing last in Group E, making close to zero impact in all his appearances.
Atletico Madrid had a disappointing season of their own last time around as they finished fourth in the league, behind Dovbyk’s soon-to-be former club and scored the least number of goals amongst all sides in the top four of the league. The club have already sold Alvaro Morata to AC Milan and Joao Felix is also on his way out of the club, either on loan or a permanent deal with Aston Villa rumoured to be interested.
Moreover, Memphis Depay has left after the club decided not to extend his contract at the club following a poor spell in the capital and Samu Omorodion, who spent the last season on loan at Alaves is also linked with a move to Chelsea. This leaves Atleti short on strikers on their books which led them to go for last season’s La Liga top scorer.
Dovbyk is set to join a long list of great strikers to have represented Los Rojablancos, joining the likes of Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan, Radamel Falcao, David Villa, Luis Suarez, and current Atletico player and legend Antoine Griezmann.
Atletico Madrid are looking to add another highly rated striker to their long list of legendary strikers as they close in on Girona’s Artem Dovbyk. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
