Conor Gallagher breaks silence on Chelsea exit and Atletico Madrid move

New Atletico Madrid signing Conor Gallagher has thanked Chelsea for ‘making my dreams come true’ during his spell at the club.

Gallagher joined boyhood club Chelsea at the age of eight and went on to make 95 appearances for the Blues.

The 24-year-old, who has 18 caps for England, was put up for sale by Chelsea despite captaining the team regularly last season.

A move to Atletico threatened to fall through earlier this month but the £33m transfer was completed on Wednesday, with Gallagher signing a five-year deal at the La Liga club.

‘To everyone at Chelsea, thank you for making my dreams come true,’ Gallagher said on Instagram.

‘It’s been an absolute honor every time I put on the shirt, and it was a dream come true to captain the team on many occasions. I loved every moment.

‘These memories will last forever. I appreciate all the love and support from the fans. Hearing the chant of my name at the Bridge is a special feeling, and the banner you displayed meant the world to me.

‘Thank you for everything. I wish the club all the best for the future, and I hope to see you all soon at Stamford Bridge! Conor.’

Gallagher played in all but one of Chelsea’s Premier League games last season, becoming a key player under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.

But Chelsea decided to sell the England star after continuing their incredible spending spree this summer, signing the likes of Pedro Neto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The Blues are expected to offload several more first-team players before the summer transfer window shuts at the end of the month, with Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell likely to leave after being left out of their Premier League opener against Manchester City.

Gallagher’s form last season saw him included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024, though he struggled for game-time during the Three Lions’ run to the final.

The midfielder had entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge so Chelsea were concerned about losing him for free next summer and saw his sale as a boost to meeting Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

But several pundits have questioned Chelsea’s decision to sell Gallagher and fans chanted his name during Sunday’s defeat to Manchester City.

‘Conor Gallagher was Chelsea’s best player last season and was practically the captain for most of it because Reece James was injured,’ ex-Chelsea star Emmanuel Petit said recently.

‘He plays for the national team. He came through the academy and you’re going to sell him for how much? £30 million? He’s probably the best midfielder in the squad.

‘I don’t understand the decisions being made at the club. They must sell players because they signed so many and are counting the cost of those mistakes in the transfer market. £30 million for Conor Gallagher is a bargain in this market.

‘They should have done more to keep him. They’ve been trying to sell him for two years. I think he’s been disrespected. They should have offered him a contract in line with the best paid players at the club.

‘Give him the same money you offered to those players who are strangers to the fans and who aren’t academy players.

‘It’s really important to keep those English players, players that have grown up in the club, in the squad. You need them there to set the standards and to keep the culture.

‘Chelsea should have done everything they could to convince him to stay. I thought he improved a lot last season. His performances and development were a pleasant surprise.

‘They’ve put him under pressure. They gave him an ultimatum, which was sign the contract or we’ll sell you. If I was Gallagher, I would be screaming with anger.

‘He gave everything for the club and fought for the badge. He saw other players coming in who had achieved nothing getting better terms.

‘I think it’s very sad and I feel sorry for the player. It reminds me of what happened with Mason Mount. He was one of the best players at Chelsea and they didn’t give him the contract he deserved, but they gave big money to new players.

‘It’s exactly the same situation and it’s almost like this ownership ignore their own developed talent because they are always chasing the next signing.’

Gallagher joins an Atletico Madrid side which finished fourth in La Liga last season. Diego Simeone’s side also signed fellow Premier League star Julian Alvarez from Manchester City this summer.

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