Porto sign Atletico's Adrian Lopez

adamhigginsuk
Jul 12, 2014
2 min read

FC Porto have completed the signing of Adrian Lopez from Atletico Madrid for an £8.8 million fee.

The 6ft Spanish forward has penned a long-term contract - the length of which has not been disclosed - after undergoing a successful medical on Friday.

He becomes the second Atletico player to join the Portuguese outfit this summer after midfielder Oliver Torres joined on loan last month.

Adrian, 26, scored 11 goals in 90 appearances for the Vicente Calderon side following his arrival from Deportivo La Coruna in 2011.

He enjoyed a superb breakthrough season in which he netted 19 times in all competitions as Diego Simeone's side made huge strides, winning the Uefa Europa League.

But his first-team opportunities were limited in 2013-14, largely due to the remarkable form of 36-goal top scorer Diego Lopez.

Adrian, who has scored once in two caps for Spain, netted just once in their title-winning campaign in the Spanish top-flight last term.

Although, one of his three goals in all competitions came in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but Atleti went on to lose to bitter Madrid rivals Real in the Lisbon final.

He will compete for a place in the team with former Chelsea player Ricardo Quaresma, Portugal international Silvestre Varela and Colombia's Jackson Martinez.

Adrian, who almost joined Arsenal in January 2013, will now link up with Porto on their pre-season tour of Holland.

His departure from Atletico is the sixth so far this summer with Torres, goalkeepers Sergio Asenjo and Thibault Courtois and Ruben Perez beginning the exodus.

Spain forward Costa has completed a £35 million move to Chelsea while David Villa became the first capture for newly-established New York City in the MLS on a free transfer.