In a move that brings his European football journey full circle, 29-year-old Ivorian national team captain Franck Kessie has officially signed with Italian Serie A side Atalanta, returning to the first club that launched his career on the continent, the club announced Saturday.
The Bergamo-based club confirmed Kessie has put pen to paper on a multi-year contract, but chose not to disclose further financial or contract duration details to the public. The transfer ends a lengthy summer chase that saw another top Italian club, Juventus, also in the running for the midfielder’s signature. However, Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti confirmed last Friday that financial fair play compliance rules blocked the club from completing a deal. “If we don’t sell someone first, it’s really difficult to bring in new players,” Spalletti explained, outlining the club’s budget constraints.
Kessie’s connection to Atalanta dates back to 2015, when he first arrived at the club to join its youth development squad. After a one-season loan spell at lower-division side Cesena, Kessie made a stunning senior debut for Atalanta in Serie A in 2016, netting two goals on his first appearance. Following his breakout season with the Bergamo club, Kessie went on to build his career across top European and global leagues, with stints at Serie A giant AC Milan, Spanish La Liga powerhouse Barcelona, and most recently, Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
Off the club pitch, Kessie has been in strong form for the Ivorian national team this year, leading the side to the knockout round of the 2024 FIFA World Cup – the first time the country has advanced past the group stage in the tournament’s history. Kessie found the back of the net in Ivory Coast’s closely contested group stage match against Germany, despite the team ending on the losing side of the result.
For Atalanta, the signing of Kessie adds a world-class experienced midfielder to a squad that has started the 2024-25 Serie A campaign on a positive note. Led by head coach Maurizio Sarri, Atalanta opened its league schedule with a win over Sassuolo last weekend, and is set to host Bologna for its second match of the season this coming Monday.