Getafe made a final attempt to sign Ghana midfielder Ibrahim Sulemana before Atalanta agreed a season-long loan deal with Sassuolo for the 23-year-old.
Sulemana will remain in Italy after Atalanta and Sassuolo reached an agreement that includes an option for the Serie A club to sign him permanently at the end of the season.
Getafe made their late approach as they tried to persuade Atalanta to change course, but the Ghana international was already destined to join Sassuolo.
The Spanish club’s final bid came after several other sides had also shown interest in Sulemana. Torino and Turkish club Erzurumspor had previously held discussions about a possible transfer, but neither was able to secure the midfielder.
Atalanta ultimately opted to send Sulemana to Sassuolo, giving the Ghanaian an opportunity to continue his development in Italy and potentially play more regularly.
The move is expected to provide Sulemana with another chance to establish himself after spending parts of the 2025/26 campaign away from Atalanta on loan.
He began his senior career with Hellas Verona before moving to Cagliari in 2023. His performances led to a further move in July 2024, when he joined Atalanta.
Sulemana remains contracted to Atalanta until June 2028, but the midfielder has spent time away from the club as he looks to gain regular first-team football.
During the 2025/26 season, he had loan spells with Bologna and Cagliari before returning to Atalanta.
His move to Sassuolo now gives him another opportunity to secure consistent playing time and continue his development within Italian football.
The agreement between Atalanta and Sassuolo means Sulemana will spend the entire season with the club, with Sassuolo retaining the option to turn the temporary arrangement into a permanent transfer when the campaign ends.
Getafe’s late intervention came as the Spanish side sought to take advantage of the competition for Sulemana’s signature.
However, Atalanta had already made their decision and proceeded with the agreement reached with Sassuolo.
The Ghanaian midfielder will consequently remain in Serie A rather than moving abroad, despite the late interest from Spain.
For Sassuolo, the loan represents an opportunity to add a 23-year-old Ghana international to their midfield and give him the chance to contribute during the coming campaign.
For Sulemana, the priority will be to establish himself as a regular player after spending much of the previous season moving between clubs on loan.
His career has already included spells at Hellas Verona, Cagliari, Atalanta and Bologna, and he will now add Sassuolo to that list.
The midfielder’s long-term future remains linked to Atalanta for now, with his contract running until 2028. However, Sassuolo’s option to make the deal permanent could provide a route for him to remain at the club beyond the current season.
The decision brings an end to the uncertainty surrounding his immediate future after several clubs showed interest.
Torino and Erzurumspor had both held talks, while Getafe went a step further by making a final approach shortly before the agreement with Sassuolo was reached.
Despite that late attempt, Getafe were unable to prevent the move from going ahead.
Atalanta and Sassuolo have now agreed terms, leaving Sulemana on course to complete his season-long loan.
The Ghana international will therefore stay in Italy and begin another chapter of his career at Sassuolo, where he will aim to earn regular minutes and demonstrate his value.
With a permanent option included in the agreement, his performances over the season could also determine whether Sassuolo decide to retain him on a long-term basis.
For now, the immediate focus is on the loan spell, with Sulemana expected to use his time at Sassuolo to gain playing opportunities and continue his development.
Getafe’s late bid ultimately came too late to alter the outcome, as Atalanta had already agreed to allow the midfielder to join Sassuolo.
