How Conor Gallagher fits in at Atletico Madrid

Conor Gallagher's transfer from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid offers Diego Simeone a new weapon in the midfield.

Atletico Madrid continue their summer of big signings as the club looks to improve on their fourth place finish in La Liga last season. Julian Alvarez made the move from Manchester City, Robin Le Normand came over from Real Sociedad, Alexander Sorloth left Villarreal, and now, Conor Gallagher departed Chelsea to help Diego Simeone build a team worthy of challenging Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Gallagher signed a five year deal with the 11-time La Liga champions. The 24-year-old will look to collect just his second senior trophy of his career after 95 appearances for the Blues, a club he joined as a 6-year-old.

As the England international prepares for his La Liga debut, here's how he will fit in will with Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid.

How Conor Gallagher fits in at Atletico Madrid

Conor Gallagher's arrival at Atletico Madrid gives the club a box-to-box midfielder with a high work rate perfect for a Simeone team that relies on a solid defensive structure and counter-attacking soccer.

Defensively, the 24-year-old has the stamina and speed to press without the ball and track back quickly to play within Simeone's typical 4-4-2. So much of Atletico Madrid's past success comes from grinding out close, low-scoring victories, and those do not come without midfielders committing themselves to a rigid, often unforgiving structure.

Gallagher brings more than just his work rate to the midfield, though. Last season, the 24-year-old scored five goals and recorded nine assists for Chelsea in what was a wildly turbulent year for the Blues.

Simeone's teams in the recent years have needed more attacking prowess from players other than their forwards. This season, especially, another playmaker and goalscorer is a welcomed addition after losing Alvaro Morata, who scored 15 goals in Atletico Madrid's 2023/24 La Liga campaign.

Half of Atletico Madrid's midfield struggled to execute in their opening fixture against Villarreal; Koke scored an own goal, Reinildo completed just 70% of his passes, and Samuel Lino created zero chances. The game ended with a 2-2 result, already leaving the club trailing Barcelona.

Gallagher should get an early opportunity to make his mark on Simeone's team, and could link up well with Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann to get Los Colchoneros back in the title picture.

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