Atlético Madrid signs Danish midfielder Morten Hjulmand

Spanish club Atlético Madrid has bolstered its squad by signing Danish international defensive midfielder Morten Hjulmand. The 27-year-old joins from Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, having agreed to a contract that will keep him at the Madrid-based team until the summer of 2031. The club announced the signing on Saturday.

Atlético Madrid highlighted Hjulmand's attributes in a statement on their official website, praising his "physical strength, ability to recover the ball, and deep understanding of the game." Hjulmand brings significant international experience, having represented Denmark 27 times and scored one goal. His career path includes playing in Denmark and Austria before moving to Lecce in Italy in 2021, where he became the second-youngest team captain in Serie A at the time, following Roma legend Francesco Totti.

After his stint in Italy, Hjulmand transferred to Sporting Lisbon. During his three seasons there, he helped the team secure the Portuguese league title twice and also won the Portuguese Cup. This acquisition marks Atlético Madrid's second signing of the current summer transfer window. Previously, they signed Spanish left-back Alejandro Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen. The club is also reportedly pursuing Paris Saint-Germain's attacking midfielder Lee Kang-in.