Kristensen set to join Atalanta for €22m plus bonuses
Quick summary
Rasmus Kristensen is on the verge of completing a permanent transfer to Atalanta for a base fee of €22m plus add-ons, having agreed personal terms.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMultiple sources confirm a basic agreement for Atalanta to sign Thomas Kristensen from Udinese, at a cost of circa €22m plus add-ons, on loan with obligation to buy.
Sportitalia pundit Alfredo Pedullà, Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio , and Fabrizio Romano all confirm the clubs are down to the details for the transfer.
Kristensen in, Djimsiti out UDINE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Thomas Kristensen of Udinese Calcio gestures during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Friuli on September 20, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) It will be a loan with obligation to buy at the end of the season, which is a way of stretching out the payment schedule.
The fee should be €22m plus add-ons, in the region of €5m in performance-related bonuses.
The asking price from Udinese had been €25m.
Kristensen is seen as the replacement for Berat Djimsiti, who has completed his permanent transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al Diriyah.
The 24-year-old Denmark international has been with Udinese since the summer of 2023, making 78 competitive appearances for the Serie A side, scoring four goals.
He might not be the last central defender that Atalanta pick up this season, because there is still interest in reuniting coach Maurizio Sarri with Lazio man Alessio Romagnoli following the collapse of his move to Saudi Arabia.
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What happened
Rasmus Kristensen, the Danish right-back, is close to a full transfer to Atalanta for a reported €22 million plus bonuses. The deal has reached the 'here we go' stage, indicating a final agreement between the selling club and Atalanta. Kristensen had previously spent time on loan at Roma and was a Leeds United product. Atalanta are moving quickly in the transfer market, having also been linked with several other targets, while Juventus have shown interest in the player as well.
Chance analysis
This signing addresses Atalanta's longstanding need for a quality right-back after issues in that position last season. Kristensen, who had mixed loan spells at Leeds and Roma, will be looking to establish himself as a starter. For the selling club, the €22m+ represents decent value, and for Atalanta, it signals ambition in a window where they've been one of Serie A's most active clubs. Defensively, this should stabilize their right flank.
Atalanta strengthen their right-back position with a permanent signing, improving squad depth and defensive stability for the new season.
Atalanta's defensive right flank should improve with a dedicated, motivated right-back; monitor his early-season integration.