OFFICIAL: Miguel Ángel Moyá leaves Atlético for Real Sociedad

Another squad player departed Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, as Real Sociedad confirmed the signing of Miguel Ángel Moyá on a deal to 2020.

After previous reports in January held that the 33-year-old would move back to Getafe this summer, Moyá elected to move immediately to the Basque Country. Real Sociedad were permitted to make this transfer for two reasons: first, they had a space in the squad open after Iñigo Martínez was sold to Athletic Club, and second, starting goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli recently suffered a cruciate ligament injury. La Real’s goalkeeping is a major reason why they are in 15th place — Eusebio’s men have shipped as many goals (47) as they have scored (47). It is expected that Moyá will debut for the txiri-urdin when they travel to Real Betis on Thursday.

As for Atlético, Moyá’s surprise exit should conclude a whirlwind week of business which saw los rojiblancos sell three players outside the European transfer window. Yannick Carrasco and Nicolás Gaitán moved to Chinese side Dalian Yifang (owned by former Atleti stakeholders Wanda) and now Moyá has gone to Anoeta as an injury replacement, leaving Simeone with 19 players — 17 outfielders and two goalkeepers — with which to challenge for Europa League and LaLiga.

The Balearic shot stopper was more often than not a solid, reliable fill-in and a loyal servant and mentor. He signed for Atlético in summer 2014 and was the starting goalkeeper when the team won the Supercopa in August 2014. Simeone kept him as first choice keeper for most of 2014/15 prior to an injury in the Champions League — which coincided with Oblak’s emergence. Thereafter, Moyá was Atleti’s cup keeper, helping the team to a Copa del Rey quarterfinal (or better) each of the past three seasons and filling in admirably when Oblak dislocated his shoulder last year.