River Plate signs Almadah in a record deal

River Plate completed the most expensive transfer in the history of the Argentine football league on Saturday, signing 2022 World Cup champion Thiago Almada from Spanish club Atlético Madrid for approximately 20 million euros ($23.1 million US).

The Spanish club announced in a statement: “Atlético Madrid and River Plate have reached an agreement regarding the transfer of Thiago Almada to the Buenos Aires club,” without disclosing the transfer fee. Almada, a midfielder and runner-up in the 2026 World Cup, is expected to join the club under the terms of the deal.

According to Spanish and Argentine press, the transfer is valued at around 20 million euros, making it the most expensive purchase in the history of an Argentine club. The previous record was also held by River Plate, which paid $16 million US (13.8 million euros) last year to the Russian club Krasnodar to sign Colombian defender Kevin Castaño.

Almada, 25, will sign a contract with River Plate in the coming days, valid until the end of 2029, in an effort to regain playing time after a season with Atlético Madrid during which he failed to establish himself fully, scoring four goals and providing two assists in 40 matches.

Almada had previously joined Atlético Madrid, known as “Rojiblancos,” from French club Lyon in the summer of 2025.