Danish midfielder Morten Hjulmand, 27, has officially joined Atletico Madrid from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth €40 million, with an additional €5 million contingent on performance. Hjulmand has signed a contract that will keep him at the club until 2031.
During his official presentation as a new Atletico player, Hjulmand expressed that joining the Spanish club is a “dream come true.” After three seasons with Sporting, where he served as captain, he emphasized the importance of this move.
“I am very excited, but also emotional. Whenever you arrive at a new club, there is a certain emotion. But from what I have heard about the group and the club, I think I will adapt easily. I want to get to know my teammates, learn the language as quickly as possible, and I can’t wait to get on the field,” Hjulmand stated.
Hjulmand described Atletico Madrid as an enormous club, noting that he has followed them since childhood as they regularly won titles in Spain and Europe. He feels honored to be part of such a respected team.
Originally acquired by Lecce for €2 million, Hjulmand was sold to Sporting Lisbon for €19.5 million in 2023. His ambitions for Atletico include enhancing the team’s balance and providing a link between defense and attack.
Hjulmand’s Vision for Atletico
Hjulmand shared his vision for his role under coach Diego Simeone: “I can provide balance to the team and be a connection between the defensive and offensive lines. I enjoy communicating, whether through body language or verbally, to assist my teammates during matches, training, and in moments before and after games.”
“When I left Austria, I was very young and made many mistakes, especially in how I communicated and interacted with older players. But I learned a lot from them. I was fortunate to be captain at Lecce and then at Sporting. It was a real privilege,” Hjulmand reflected.
Impressed by the Metropolitano Stadium, Hjulmand remarked, “It was my first time here, and I was a little shocked by the size of the stadium. I cannot yet imagine what it will be like with 70,000 people here. I have already seen some matches and can feel the atmosphere on television. I think it will be something incredible.”
