Atletico Madrid bring in Jonathan David on long-term loan from Juventus

Atletico Madrid have completed the signing of Juventus forward Jonathan David on a free loan deal running until 30 June 2027, giving manager Diego Simeone another attacking option alongside Julian Alvarez.

The agreement was confirmed by Juventus during the final hours of the summer transfer window. Atletico Madrid will have the option to make the Canada international’s move permanent for €25m, with the fee payable over four financial years if the Spanish club decides to activate the clause.

The deal represents a low-risk addition for Atletico, who had been searching for greater depth in attack while uncertainty continued over Alvarez’s future. The Argentina forward has attracted interest from Barcelona, although no decision on his situation is included in the agreement announced by Juventus.

David was Atletico’s leading target for strengthening their forward line, with the club keen to structure the transfer in a way that avoided a significant immediate financial commitment.

The 25-year-old joined Juventus as a free agent last summer after his contract with French club Lille expired. However, his first season in Italian football did not match expectations and he scored eight goals in all competitions.

Atletico confirmed David’s arrival on social media with the message:

“HE’S HERE 🥶New admin reporting for duty 🙂‍↕️pic.twitter.com/gZnwWAvMLm”

The Canadian’s arrival increases the options available to Simeone as Atletico prepare to manage their attacking resources for the new campaign. David can now provide an alternative presence in the front line and potentially operate alongside Alvarez, depending on the Argentine’s future.

For Juventus, the agreement brings an end to David’s brief spell at the club, at least temporarily. He arrived in Turin without a transfer fee after establishing himself at Lille, but was unable to produce the level of output expected during his debut season in Serie A.

Atletico’s decision to pursue a loan rather than an immediate permanent transfer allows them to assess David in their own system before committing to the €25m purchase option. Any permanent transfer would be paid across four financial years, according to the terms announced by Juventus.

The move was completed late in the summer window after Atletico identified David as the preferred addition to their attack. His transfer also gives the club cover at a time when Alvarez’s position remains under scrutiny because of the reported interest from Barcelona.