Official: Atalanta negotiate Kossounou discount from Bayer Leverkusen | OneFootball

Atalanta have agreed a €20m fee to buy Odilon Kossounou outright from Bayer Leverkusen, at a slight discount, while Torino bought Cristiano Biraghi from Fiorentina.

This is the time of the transfer market where clubs decide whether or not to make loan moves permanent, and if so, to stick with the agreed options to buy or renegotiate the terms.

Kossounou injury prompted rethink

Odilon Kossounou of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between Udinese and Atalanta at Stadio Friuli on January 11, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Atalanta were very eager to keep hold of Kossounou, but were seeking a discount from Bayer Leverkusen on the original €25m option to buy.

This is because they already spent €5.2m on the one-season loan and above all the defender had to miss quite a lot of it following surgery on a torn tendon.

That kept him out of action from mid-January to mid-April, a three-month gap during a key part of the campaign.

Kossounou ultimately made 23 competitive appearances in the Atalanta jersey, contributing two assists in the Champions League.

Atalanta were able to negotiate Bayer Leverkusen down to €20m and formally announced the deal this afternoon.

It was not activating the option to buy, but a whole new negotiation, bringing the total transfer fee to €25m.

He has signed a new contract with La Dea to June 2029.

NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 27: Cristiano Biraghi of Torino during the Serie A match between Napoli and Torino at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 27, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Sky Sport Italia maintain that Torino activated their option to buy Biraghi from Fiorentina.

It was by no means certain, despite the fact the cost of the operation was a measly €100,000 following a six-month loan.