Atlético Madrid have signed Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel for a year until 30 June 2021, according to what was announced on Wednesday by the Madrid club.
Rojiblancos said in a statement that Vestel, 33, “became an Atlético Madrid player following an agreement between the club and the Belgian player, who signed a one-year contract.”
Atlético have officially announced the deal, which club president Enrique Cerezo announced on 27 June, saying: “Midfielder, we have signed him. This is Witsel, with whom, as you know, a contract was signed.
The deal for Witsel, who left his former team, Borussia Dortmund, after the expiration of his contract, compensates for the departure of the Mexican Hector Herrera from the capital club to Houston, USA.
Witsel has been one of Dortmund’s staff for the past four seasons, with the exception of a few months when he had to be out of action with a serious Achilles tendon injury.
The midfielder with attacking genes accompanies his compatriot Yannick Carrasco, his Belgian teammate who has defended his colors in 125 international matches and also participated with the Red Devils in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and in the European Cup Finals in 2016 and 2020.
After starting his career at Standard Liege in 2006, Witsel moved to Benfica, then to Zenit Saint Petersburg, Russia, Tianjin Tianhai, China and then to Dortmund.
Last season, Witsel made 40 appearances in various competitions, scoring two goals.