Argentina forward Thiago Almada is set to leave Atletico Madrid and complete a move to River Plate, a source within the Argentine club confirmed to Reuters on Monday.

River Plate reached an agreement with both Atletico Madrid and the player during negotiations in Spain, according to a member of the club’s management. The transfer will be officially announced after the conclusion of the Club World Cup.

The 25-year-old, who was part of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and is currently featuring in the tournament in the United States, is expected to return to South America in pursuit of regular first-team football after struggling for consistent opportunities during his spell in Spain.

According to reports in the Argentine media, River Plate will pay around $20 million to acquire 50% of Almada’s registration rights, completing one of the club’s biggest transfer deals in recent years.

Almada came through the youth ranks at Velez Sarsfield before moving to Major League Soccer side Atlanta United. He later enjoyed spells with Botafogo and Olympique Lyonnais prior to joining Atletico Madrid. During the 2025-26 campaign, the 25-year-old made 40 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals while establishing himself as a regular member of the squad