Softfootball understands that Atlético Madrid has officially confirmed the permanent transfer of left-back Javi Galán to CA Osasuna, a move that quietly brings his time at the club to an end.
The announcement came today in a post shared by Atletico Madrid via their official X account, with Osasuna paying a reported €500,000 fee, closing a chapter that began just two years earlier.
They posted:
Agreement with Osasuna for the transfer of Javi Galán to the Navarrese team. We wish you all the best in all your future personal and professional projects!
Galán originally arrived in Madrid in the summer of 2023 after joining from RC Celta for around €5 million. At the time, the deal looked like a solid piece of business. Things, however, never really took off as expected.
Under Diego Simeone, Galán struggled for regular minutes. Competition was high, and chances were limited. During the 2023–24 season, he was sent on loan to Real Sociedad until the end of the campaign, a move that helped him find some rhythm again and get consistent game time.
After returning, his role remained a bit unclear. Across all competitions, Galán made 56 official appearances, with 47 of those coming on either side of his loan spell.
The 2025–26 season was particularly quiet, with just seven appearances in total, five in LaLiga, one in the Champions League, and one in the Copa del Rey, adding up to only 313 minutes on the pitch for Atlético, who recently defeated Valencia 2-1 in La Liga and also recently defeated Union Saint-Gilloise 3-1 in the Champions League.
Osasuna has signed the 31-year-old on a deal running until June 30, 2026. The agreement includes add-ons that could see Atlético earn an extra €500,000 for each contract extension, as long as Osasuna stay in LaLiga, which feels like a fair compromise.
For Galán, it’s a fresh start and likely more minutes. For Atlético, it’s a low-key exit, maybe overdue, but handled cleanly enough in the end.
