France international Clément Lenglet has officially parted ways with FC Barcelona after mutually terminating his contract on Monday. The 29-year-old defender has signed a three-year deal with Atlético Madrid, where he spent the 2024–25 season on loan, both clubs confirmed.
“Clément Lenglet and Atlético de Madrid have reached an agreement for the French international to remain at the club until 2028,” Atlético announced. “The centre-back, who played on loan this season, joins on a free transfer.”
Lenglet made 34 appearances across all competitions for Atlético this season and impressed head coach Diego Simeone with his consistent performances. His strong form earned him a recall to the French national team by Didier Deschamps for the UEFA Nations League Final Four.
Lenglet originally joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2018 and went on to make 160 appearances for the Catalan giants. During his time with Barça, he also had loan spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa before his most recent stint with Atlético.
In a statement, Barcelona confirmed the termination of Lenglet’s contract:
“FC Barcelona and the first-team player Clément Lenglet have reached an agreement to terminate the contract binding both parties.”
According to reports from the Catalan media, the decision to end Lenglet’s contract amicably will help Barcelona reduce their wage bill, enabling them to comply with La Liga’s financial fair play regulations and pursue new signings during the summer transfer window.