Barcelona confirm Atletico Madrid clause after Memphis Depay exit

Memphis Depay has completed his move from Barcelona to Atletico Madrid, penning a two-and-a-half-year contract.

The 28-year-old arrived at Camp Nou in the summer of 2021, following the expiration of his Lyon contract, and signed a two-year deal.

But the Dutchman was never able to command a regular place in Barcelona’s side and his opportunities have been further limited this season after Robert Lewandowski’s arrival from Bayern Munich.

Memphis has only played in four games in all competitions during 2022/23 and it was no secret that Barcelona were willing to let him go if an interested party was willing to take on his hefty wages.

That willing party has proven to be La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, who have completed the signing of Memphis in a deal worth just €4m.

Atletico have also agreed to a clause that gives Barcelona a preferential purchase option of winger Yannick Carrasco this summer, although there’s no obligation for the Catalan giants to buy the 29-year-old.

Barcelona thanked Memphis in their statement confirming his departure, while Atletico confirmed that he will be unveiled at a presentation at their Metropolitano Stadium.

Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven are among Memphis’ former clubs, but it’s the Spanish capital where Memphis will hope to recapture the goalscoring form he showed at Lyon. His four-year stay in Ligue 1 yielded 63 goals in 139 appearances, comfortably the best return of his career to date.