Atletico Madrid have confirmed the signing of striker Julian Alvarez from Manchester Metropolis.

The LaLiga facet have paid a reported £81.5million for the Argentinian, who has signed a six-year deal.

It makes it a report sale for Metropolis, eclipsing the £50m they recieved from Chelsea for Raheem Sterling in 2022.

Alvarez, 24, has impressed regardless of taking part in second fiddle to Erling Haaland throughout his two years at Metropolis however has moved on looking for extra common first-team soccer.

“As we speak I say goodbye to this wonderful membership, with quite a lot of emotion,” he advised the membership’s web site.

“These have been two very particular years. Throughout this time, I've grown and learnt so much – each as a participant and as an individual.”

Alvarez gained six main trophies throughout his two years on the Etihad, in addition to the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa America with Argentina.

Metropolis director of soccer Txiki Begiristain stated Alvarez has been “a pleasure to work with”.

“The trophies he has gained already inform their very own story – he's a winner,” added Begiristain.

“I stay up for watching him develop additional within the the rest of his profession.”

🕷️ Welcome, Araña! ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/a0G7MBh8iE

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) August 12, 2024

Julian Alvarez stats

Metropolis signed Alvarez for 17 million euros (£14.1m) in January 2022 from Argentine facet River Plate, the place he remained on mortgage initially, making his Residents debut in July 2022.

He produced 17 objectives and 5 assists in 49 appearances for Metropolis in his first marketing campaign. In his second, Alvarez scored 19 instances and arrange 13 objectives.

Alvarez was virtually ever-present for Metropolis within the league in 2023/24 till mid-February however began solely two of their 10 Champions League matches, taking part in 33 minutes in whole throughout the 2 legs in opposition to Madrid.

Having performed solely 17 minutes throughout their earlier three Premier League video games – scoring twice – Alvarez was an unused substitute when Metropolis clinched the title on the ultimate day of the season in opposition to West Ham United.

The 2021 South American Footballer of the Yr was circuitously concerned in any FA Cup objectives after the third spherical of Metropolis’s marketing campaign and performed for 34 minutes of their shock 2-1 defeat to Manchester United within the remaining.

Metropolis meet Manchester United within the Group Protect on Saturday (3pm). Their Premier League season begins at Chelsea on August 18 (4.30pm), with their first house sport in opposition to Ipswich City six days later (3pm).