Atalanta Transfer Market: Rowe Is the Most Expensive Signing in History
A flurry of activity at the end of the transfer window for Atalanta, which has finalized two major deals—one an outbound transfer and one an inbound transfer. Atalanta has sold Honest Ahanor to Chelsea for 48 million euros: the 18-year-old Italian defender will be loaned to Crystal Palace for a season to help him adjust to the Premier League.
Meanwhile, English forward Jonathan Rowe, who left Bologna, has arrived in Bergamo. The player underwent his physical in Milan and arrived at Zingonia in the late afternoon. This is the most expensive deal in Atalanta’s history; the club acquired him on a loan for 5 million with an obligation to buy for 35 million upon the fulfillment of certain conditions.
“Atalanta BC is pleased to announce that it has acquired the playing rights of Jonathan Rowe from Bologna FC on a temporary basis, with the right and obligation to make the transfer permanent upon the fulfillment of certain conditions. A key player in England’s success at the 2025 U21 European Championship, Jonathan was born in London to Jamaican parents on April 30, 2003. After taking his first steps in soccer at AFC Wembley, the team in the neighborhood where he grew up, he went on to develop his talent in the Norwich City youth system, rapidly progressing through the ranks to make his first-team debut at just 17 years old in an EFL Trophy match. The 2021–22 season brought his first Premier League appearances (13 in total), with his debut coming in late December in the away match against Crystal Palace. With five goals in his first five matches across all competitions, he immediately carved out a starring role in the 2023–24 season, which ended with a total of 12 goals in the English Championship. It was a standout season, further highlighted by his selection as the EFL Young Player of the Month for August 2023, which earned him a call-up from Olympique de Marseille.”
“In France, it took him just four games to score his first goal in Ligue 1—and it was no ordinary goal: in the 95th minute, he sealed OM’s 3-2 victory on the road against Olympique Lyonnais. He finished the season with 31 appearances across all competitions, 3 goals, and 4 assists. At age 22, he received a call from Italy—specifically from Bologna—and made his Serie A debut on September 14, 2025, in an away match against Milan. In his first “Italian” season, he scored three league goals (one of which—a stunning half-volley that decided the match against Napoli in stoppage time—was named Goal of the Month for May by the Serie A League) and one in the Coppa Italia, which proved decisive in the victory over Parma; he also gained valuable experience in the UEFA Europa League, contributing 4 goals and 2 assists to help the team reach the quarterfinals (he scored one of the goals in the 4-3 victory at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico in the round of 16 second leg).”
“Jonathan also played a starring role for England’s U21 team, with whom he won the 2025 European Championship, making a fundamental and decisive contribution to the title victory: after scoring in the tournament’s opening match against the Czech Republic, he did it again in the final, netting the decisive goal in extra time with a diving header in the 3-2 victory over Germany.”
