Atalanta and AZ Alkmaar have finalized the agreement for Teun Koopmeiners to move to Serie A. Gianluca Di Marzio reports the Eredivisie giants accepted a €14M offer for their captain after months of exhausting negotiations.
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Teun #Koopmeiners è un nuovo giocatore dell’Atalanta! ⚫️? Welkom, Teun! ???? ?? ???????? ??????????? ?
Koopmeiners is a new #Atalanta player! ? Welcome, Teun! ?#GoAtalantaGo ⚫️? pic.twitter.com/l1ZcGQxM3B— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) August 30, 2021
Atalanta first showed interest in Koopmeiners at the beginning of the summer. However, talks between AZ and La Dea have been dragging all over the summer. Roma tried to hijack the move at one point. Afterward, they tracked Sofyan Amrabat and Morten Thorsby before going back to their original target.
The 23-year-old midfielder has come through the ranks at the AFAS Stadion. Since making his senior debut in August 2017, the Dutchman has racked up 153 appearances in all competitions for the Eredivisie side.
Despite mainly playing in front of the backline, Koopmeiners has been quite prolific. He has managed 43 goals and 17 assists for AZ en route to earning the captain’s armband. Though the club fought tooth and nail to keep their star player beyond the summer, Atalanta’s unrelenting efforts have paid dividends eventually.
Koopmeiners will reportedly pen a four-year contract at the Gewiss Stadium worth €1.5m per season. He should bring creativity and energy to Gasperini’s underperforming side. Despite going unbeaten in their opening two Serie A games this term, Atalanta have played well below their high standards. After eking out a 2-1 victory away to Torino on the opening weekend, La Dea slumped at home against a spirited Bologna side on Matchday 1, managing a goalless draw on Saturday evening.