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LISBON, PORTUGAL - APRIL 19: Morten Hjulmand of Sporting CP controls the ball during the Primeira Liga match between Sporting CP and SL Benfica at Estádio José Alvalade on April 19, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atlético de Madrid and Sporting Clube de Portugal have struck an agreement over the Lisbon side’s captain Morten Hjulmand, according to reports in Spain and Portugal.
Rubén Uría was the first to report that Denmark international Hjulmand will arrive in a €40 million transfer, with Sporting able to secure another €5 million based on the amount of games Hjulmand plays, in addition to how far Atleti progress in the UEFA Champions League. The player last week signed off on a five-year contract to 2031, and he arrived in Madrid on Thursday to undergo a medical; his signing should be announced before Atleti’s preseason training camp begins on Monday.
Hjulmand will take a big leap in his career following spells in Austria (with Admira Wacker) and Italy (Lecce) as well as Portugal, where he won two league titles with Sporting and helped the Leões reach the Champions League quarterfinals in 2025/26. The 27-year-old scored three goals and provided four assists across 27 appearances in the Primeira Liga last season.
Hjulmand is regarded as a superb positional midfielder, a pivot with good ball progression and a strong stride that helps him cover ground and recover the ball at a high rate. His traits complement both Pablo Barrios and Johnny Cardoso, and he should offer Diego Simeone a genuine alternative to his long-serving captain Koke, who last week renewed his contract for one more season. Hjulmand has suffered only a few injuries in his career, with playing absences largely coming through suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
Le profil de Morten Hjulmand :
Excellente récupération du ballon
Progression balle au pied
Anticipation
Qualité de passes longues
Grande conscience spatiale
Large couverture du terrainpic.twitter.com/FqXeR8mbHY
— L'Atlético Bis(@AtleticoBis) July 9, 2026
Hjulmand will need to adjust to the faster pace of LaLiga relative to the Primeira Liga, and his proclivity for getting booked could limit his effectiveness. He picked up 40 yellow cards in 114 league appearances for Sporting (though he received just one red card) and ended last season with 14 yellows across 37 appearances in the league and the Champions League. Hjulmand will have to be more careful in Spain, knowing how referees here love to make the game about themselves.
That said, given the exorbitant price for midfielders on the transfer market this summer, Atleti have done well to secure Hjulmand’s services for an initial €40 million. Barrios, Cardoso and Rodri Mendoza all carry injury concerns entering the new season, while Koke turns 35 in January and 20-year-old Obed Vargas may yet go out on loan. The hope is that Hjulmand will deliver immediate returns and distinguish himself as a possible successor to Koke, as a midfielder who can set the tempo and organize the team.
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