July 16, 2025: American midfielder Johnny Cardoso is officially an Atletico Madrid player. Born in Denville, New Jersey, the 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the La Liga giants, keeping him at the Metropolitano until 2030. The deal was confirmed by both Atletico and Real Betis, where Cardoso previously played 65 matches, including 45 in La Liga.
Cardoso, who is currently vacationing in Brazil following his participation in the Concacaf Gold Cup with the U.S. national team, is expected to join Atletico’s preseason later than the rest of the squad. However, there’s a chance he could return early and begin training in Los Angeles de San Rafael.
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The midfielder’s enthusiasm for joining Atletico played a decisive role in the transfer. Despite Tottenham Hotspur having a preferential clause for his signing—linked to a previous agreement involving Lo Celso—Cardoso chose Atletico, showing his desire to wear the red-and-white jersey and take on the iconic number five role under Diego Simeone.
Cardoso becomes Atletico’s fourth signing of the summer, following Matteo Ruggeri, Alex Baena, and Thiago Almada. Moving from Betis to a Champions League regular like Atletico Madrid marks a major step up in his career, as he aims to make an immediate impact with his new team.