Fulham have turned down a £21.5 million bid from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid for Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi, making it clear that the player is not for sale, according to reports in the UK.
The bid was first revealed by African football outlet Africa Foot, which reported that Atletico Madrid had submitted an official proposal for the 29-year-old midfielder.
The La Liga side are reportedly overhauling their squad after a third-place finish in the Spanish top flight last season and had identified Iwobi as a key midfield target.
In a follow-up confirmation by Fulham-focused news site HammyEnd.com, Fulham are said to have immediately rejected the offer, stating that Iwobi remains a core part of manager Marco Silva’s plans.
“Fulham have turned down Atletico Madrid’s £21.5m offer for Nigerian international Alex Iwobi.
The Whites view their 29-year-old midfielder as a key part of Marco Silva’s plans and are not considering selling him at this point,” the site reported.
Iwobi, who has three years left on his current contract at Craven Cottage, has become a vital figure in Fulham’s midfield.
Atletico Madrid were reportedly prepared to offer the Nigerian a four-year deal worth £115,000 per week in an attempt to lure him to Spain, but the Cottagers have shown no interest in entering negotiations.
Since signing from Everton in September 2023 for a fee of £22 million, Iwobi has impressed fans and pundits alike with his work rate, consistency, and versatility. He enjoyed a standout 2024/25 campaign, scoring nine goals and providing six assists in the Premier League.
In total, Iwobi has scored 15 goals and delivered eight assists in 77 appearances for Fulham.
Internationally, the Nigerian has amassed 80 caps and scored 10 goals for the Super Eagles. He played a key role in Nigeria’s run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
While Atletico Madrid may yet return with an improved offer, Fulham’s stance remains firm — Alex Iwobi is not for sale.