4. Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid to Barcelona
On 12 July 2019, Barcelona announced the signing of Griezmann after they paid his €120 million buy-out clause, with the player set to sign a five-year contract with the club. Later that day, however, Atletico Madrid disputed Barcelona’s deal to sign the player, stating that the fee paid falls €80 million short of his release clause, claiming that Griezmann had agreed to move to the Nou Camp before 1 July, when his €200 million buy-out clause was lowered to €120 million.
Atletico later stated they have “started the procedures it considers appropriate for the defense of its legitimate rights and interests” as a result of any deal, with reports in Spanish media suggesting the club planned to go to football’s governing body FIFA to argue their case. On 14 July, Griezmann was presented at the Camp Nou and was handed the number 17 shirt, and made his debut in a pre-season friendly in Japan against Chelsea.
Transfer fee: €120 million
