The FIVE Atletico Madrid players out of contract in 2026 and what their futures hold

Decision time is approaching for several Atletico Madrid players as Diego Simeone’s side continue their efforts to topple Barcelona and city rivals Real Madrid in LaLiga.

After finishing third again last season, Atletico Madrid have long since been established as the biggest threat to LaLiga’s two most historic powerhouses. And over his 13-year reign, Simeone has kept them competitive with an evolving squad.

The futures of a few players will be up for question this summer out of necessity because of their contract situations. There are five players in Simeone’s squad who have entered the final year of their contracts.

This summer will be the point at which the club need to decide whether to offer those players new deals, allow them to see out the final year of their contracts, or sell them.

Here, TEAMtalk takes a look at the five Atleti players out of contract in 2026 and what the future might hold.

Angel Correa

• Appearances last season: 48
• Goals last season: 8
• Weekly salary: €67,308
• Annual salary: €3.5m

The current occupant of Atleti’s no. 10 shirt, Correa is close to leaving the club. The Argentine forward has represented the club since 2015, but was close to leaving last summer and had interest in January too.

After more than 450 appearances for Atleti, Correa has been facing an uncertain future again. After he turned 30 in March, Atleti could be tempted to sell him.

But a decision shouldn’t be taken too lightly, since Correa has produced double figures of goal contributions in each of the past six seasons – including the most recent one.

There comes a time, though, when players reach the end of a cycle at a club, and that could be the case for Correa after a decade of service.

Mexican side Tigres are expecting Correa to join them imminently in what should be a €10m deal.

Rodrigo De Paul

• Appearances last season: 53
• Goals last season: 3
• Weekly salary: €128,269
• Annual salary: €6.67m

De Paul was an astute signing for Atleti when they bought him from Udinese in the summer of 2021. Correa’s compatriot has gone on to make more than 180 appearances for the Mattress Makers and became a World Cup winner with Argentina in December 2022.

Although De Paul turned 31 in May, Atleti were reportedly planning to offer him a new contract, which would be well deserved. After all, De Paul is a senior player for Simeone and fits in well at the Metropolitano.

However, he is now the subject of a potential move to MLS with Inter Miami, where he would get to team up with his international teammate Lionel Messi.

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Javi Galan

• Appearances last season: 40
• Goals last season: 0
• Weekly salary: €62,500
• Annual salary: €3.25m

2024-25 was an unexpected season of sorts for Galan – in a good way. The left-back was expected to leave last summer, but a turn of events led to him staying.

Galan seized his chance, coming into the starting lineup from around October and going on to earn a high portion of game time since.

What may work in Galan’s favour for staying at Atleti is that fellow left-back Reinildo has made way for Sunderland at the end of his contract – although Matteo Ruggeri has arrived as a new starter.

That ought to relegate Galan, 30, back to a deputising role, but reports earlier this year suggested he would be happy to stay and a contract renewal is not ruled out.

Koke

• Appearances last season: 47
• Goals last season: 1
• Weekly salary: €128,269
• Annual salary: €6.67m

A lifelong servant to Atleti, Koke has made more appearances for the club than anyone else – and there are more to come in 2025-26.

Now 33 years old, his current agreement with Atleti is that there will be an option to extend his contract at the end of every year.

Thus, rather than becoming a free agent in 2025, both parties agreed to continue together for yet another campaign.

Saul Niguez

• Appearances last season: 26 (on loan at Sevilla)
• Goals last season: 1
• Weekly salary: €230,769
• Annual salary: €12m

Do you remember what you were doing in 2017? For Saul Niguez, it was signing an extraordinary nine-year contract at Atleti. It’s still valid, but things haven’t gone entirely to plan since then.

Saul spent last season on loan at Sevilla, who had the option to keep him at the end of the season on what would have been a three-year deal but have communicated that his time in Andalusia is over.

There were some conflicting reports prior to his loan as to whether Saul would be terminating his Atleti contract or not, but he remained listed as a player under contract until 2026.

It is virtually certain the former Chelsea loanee has played his last game for Atleti, though. The 30-year-old had a good career there, amassing more than 400 appearances, but his future, while still to be decided, lies elsewhere.