11 hours ago
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Morten Hjulmand is headed to Atletico Madrid, and the club’s fan token apparently got the memo before the jersey was even printed.
The Danish defensive midfielder completed his transfer on July 11 for a fee of €40 million, with an additional €5 million in potential add-ons. He signed a five-year contract running through June 30, 2031. And while the footballing world debated the tactical implications, the $ATM fan token on the Chiliz blockchain quietly ripped 28% higher on the week.
The transfer itself
Hjulmand, 27, arrives from Sporting CP, where he served as captain. He originally joined the Portuguese club in 2023 for €19 million, meaning Atletico is paying roughly double what Sporting invested just a few years ago.
The midfielder described his decision to move to Madrid as an easy one, citing conversations with manager Diego Simeone as a key factor.
The transfer was finalized after medical assessments in Madrid and officially confirmed at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Fan tokens and the transfer bump
Atletico Madrid launched its $ATM fan token on the Socios.com platform back in 2019, making it one of the earliest adopters of blockchain-based fan engagement in top-flight European football.
The token gives holders voting rights on certain club decisions. Following the announcement of Hjulmand’s signing, $ATM recorded a 28% gain on a weekly basis.
Atletico’s broader crypto strategy adds context here. In July 2024, the club partnered with Kraken as its Official Crypto and Web3 Partner, signaling that digital asset integration wasn’t a one-off experiment but a core part of the business model going forward.
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