Atlético target Dortmund’s Brandt as Griezmann replacement - report

TL;DR

Atlético de Madrid is reportedly targeting Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt as a replacement for the outgoing Antoine Griezmann. Brandt is set to leave Dortmund on a free transfer this summer after losing his starting position this season.

Key points

Atlético Madrid targets Julian Brandt as Griezmann's replacement
Brandt will leave Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer
He has lost his starting position this season

Atlético de MadridBorussia Dortmund

DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 11: Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund reacts during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on April 11, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Hendrik Deckers/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images) Atlético de Madrid are targeting Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Julian Brandt on a free transfer this summer, according to Marca duo David Medina and Isaac Suárez, as the club sees the Germany international as a replacement for the outgoing Antonie Griezmann. Per Medina and Suarez, Atlético are “leading the race” to sign Brandt, who will leave Dortmund when his contract expires in June. Sporting director Mateu Alemany is said to be spearheading the push for Brandt; , set to face Atleti in the UEFA Champions League semifinals next week, reportedly are pursuing the 29-year-old as well. Brandt is a versatile right-footed attacker who can play in midfield or on either wing. He has scored seven goals and provided three assists across 1,364 minutes in the Bundesliga this season, while adding four more goals between the DFB-Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. However, Brandt this season has lost his place as a starter under head coach Niko Kovač. DAZN’s German football expert Andrés Weiss called him “the definition of inconsistency and frustration” in the two seasons since he helped Dortmund reach the Champions League final in 2024. There’s no doubt that Brandt is a good player. He is a quality finisher (11 goals this season) and a crafty playmaker who provided 15 assists between the Bundesliga and the Champions League last season. But selling him as the replacement for *Griezmann* — the club’s all-time top scorer and one of its biggest legends — seems foolish to me. Now, if Alemany wants to sign Brandt to replace and compete with Álex Baena, that would be a fairly smart play. Neither Baena nor Almada has been able to assert himself as a starter due to injuries and inconsistent performances; Almada was sent off in , while Baena endured a frustrating hour before he was substituted.

Q&A

Why is Atlético Madrid interested in Julian Brandt?

Atlético Madrid sees Julian Brandt as a potential replacement for Antoine Griezmann, who is leaving the club.

When does Julian Brandt's contract with Borussia Dortmund expire?

Julian Brandt's contract with Borussia Dortmund is set to expire in June 2026.

What has been Julian Brandt's performance this season?

This season, Brandt has scored seven goals and provided three assists in the Bundesliga, but has struggled to maintain a starting position.