More than a new acquisition, Atalanta`s initial significant move of the transfer period is a confirmation, signaling their clear intent to maintain the successful squad that achieved a third-place finish last season. Yesterday, Atalanta finalized the agreement for Odilon Kossounou, a transaction valued at a comprehensive 20 million euros.
The defender originally arrived last year from Bayer Leverkusen on a paid loan for 5 million euros. The club has now made the acquisition permanent (distinct from simply redeeming the loan) under a new four-year contract that runs until June 30, 2029.
During the past season (2023/2024), the Ivorian defender, born in 2001, featured in a total of 23 matches for the Nerazzurri, starting 16 times. His appearances included 18 in Serie A, 4 in the Champions League, and 1 in the Supercoppa Italiana. Kossounou showed excellent adaptation to Gian Piero Gasperini`s 3-4-1-2 formation before his season was interrupted by a physical issue.
The permanent signing of the defender serves as a strong statement looking ahead to the upcoming season. While club management will continue to explore options to further strengthen the defense (monitoring the condition of Kolasinac, expected back in October), and plans include adding a couple of players to the midfield, this crucial move has effectively solidified a key part of the team`s foundation.
