Atletico Madrid are closing in on the signing of Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand after reaching a verbal understanding on personal terms with the Danish midfielder’s representatives. The two clubs remain in advanced negotiations over the transfer fee structure, with the deal potentially reaching completion before Sporting depart for their pre-season camp on July 11.
Hjulmand, who joined the Lisbon club from Italian side Lecce in 2023, has established himself as one of the Primeira Liga’s most complete midfielders and currently wears the captain’s armband for the Portuguese outfit. At 25, he represents a long-term target for Diego Simeone as the Spanish club actively reshapes its midfield options this summer.
Fee Structure the Final Hurdle
The primary sticking point in negotiations centres on the composition of the transfer fee. Sporting maintain that any agreement must include at least €40 million in guaranteed payments, citing Hjulmand’s contract which runs until 2028. The club has referenced the player’s €80 million release clause as a valuation benchmark, though Atletico have no intention of triggering that figure.
Instead, Los Colchoneros are working towards a package worth approximately €45 million including performance-related add-ons. The uncertainty surrounds whether Sporting will accept a meaningful portion of the fee being conditional rather than upfront. This approach aligns with Atletico’s recent recruitment strategy, which has favoured structured deals with bonus payments.
Deadline Looms for Resolution
Time is becoming a decisive factor in the discussions. Sporting are scheduled to begin their pre-season preparations in the Algarve on July 11, and the club are keen to resolve their captain’s future before the squad reconvenes. Prolonged uncertainty threatens to disrupt their summer preparations, adding internal pressure to reach a compromise.
Atletico are expected to submit a revised offer imminently to test whether Sporting’s resistance to conditional payments has softened. With personal terms already settled between Hjulmand’s agent, Ivan Marko Benes, and Atletico sporting director Mateu Alemany, the transfer could move rapidly towards formal completion should the financial gap close.
The Denmark international has been on Atletico’s radar for much of the summer, with concrete contact between the clubs first reported in early July. Los Colchoneros view Hjulmand as a player capable of anchoring the engine room for years rather than months, fitting the profile of Simeone’s typical recruitment. If the current negotiations prove successful, the midfielder would leave Sporting after just two seasons, during which he has become a central figure in their setup.