Thank you, Saúl!
The midfielder has terminated his contract and is set to take on a new professional challenge, having become one of our club legends as the player with the ninth-most appearances in red and white, with 427 matches.
Atlético de Madrid and Saúl Ñíguez have reached an agreement to terminate the midfielder ‘s contract. The academy graduate, who will now pursue a new professional challenge, concludes his chapter with the club after representing us on 427 occasions—making him the ninth most-capped player in Atlético’s history.
Saúl joined our Academy in the 2008/09 season at the age of 14 and progressed through the youth ranks. He made his first-team debut on 8 March 2012 in a UEFA Europa League clash against Beşiktaş at the Vicente Calderón. This marked the start of a memorable career, with an early loan spell in 2013/14 at Rayo Vallecano, where he further proved his worth at the top level before returning home.
On 27 September 2014, he scored his first goal for the club in a LaLiga match against Sevilla—the first of a total of 48 goals, to which he added 26 assists. Among his many memorable strikes were stunning efforts against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and Leicester City.
After several seasons at the club, he spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Chelsea before returning to play his final games as a Rojiblanco, making 87 appearances in his third and final stint—capped off with a 2–0 win away at Real Sociedad in San Sebastián.
During his time with us—and prior to his most recent loan spell last season at Sevilla—the Elche native lifted two UEFA Europa League titles (2011/12 and 2017/18), one LaLiga title (2020/21), a Copa del Rey (2012/13), a Spanish Super Cup (2014/15), and a UEFA Super Cup (2018/19).
Our president, Enrique Cerezo, speaking on behalf of the club, paid tribute to Saúl, saying: “We want to thank him for more than 15 years defending our shirt, from the Academy to the first team. He arrived as a young talent and, after more than 400 appearances, countless assists, goals and trophies, he has become part of our history and one of our legends.”
Enrique Cerezo also wished Saúl and his family “the very best in this new chapter and in all their future personal and professional endeavours,” and added: “This will always be your home.”
Thank you, Saúl!
