AZ captain Koopmeiners confirms €14 million transfer to Atalanta

AZ Alkmaar captain Teun Koompeiners has joined Italian side Atalanta Bergamo for an initial fee of €12 million, plus a potential €2 million in bonuses.

The 23-year-old confirmed after his team’s 3-1 win at Heerenveen that he had played his last match for AZ. ‘It’s taken a while, but the deal is done,’ he said.

Koopmeiners has signed a five-year contract and will join his fellow Dutch internationals Marten de Roon and Hans Hateboer at the Serie A club.

‘I’ve been signed as a midfielder, with the added value that I can play at the back,’ said Koopmeiners. ‘It was a strange situation today. I’ve been playing for this club for 13 years. It’s great that I can finally take this step.’

AZ are hoping to strengthen their squad before Tuesday’s transfer deadline by signing midfielder Joey Veerman from Heerenveen, but the clubs are haggling over the price.

The Cheeseheads are reported to have made an initial offer in the region of €4.5 million, but the Frisian club want €8 million for the 22-year-old, who scored nine goals last season.

Earlier this summer AZ parted company this summer with striker Myron Boadu and forward Calvin Stengs, who joined French sides AS Monaco and Nice respectively.