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Atletico Mineiro officially announced the signing of Brazilian midfielder Fred after his contract with Fenerbahce was terminated by mutual agreement on Friday, ending the 33-year-old's three-year spell with the Turkish club.
Fred signed a contract with the Brazilian side through the end of the 2029 season, returning to the club where he began his football career. As part of the deal, Fenerbahce will receive €2 million ($2.3 million) in guaranteed fees, with an additional €500,000 in bonuses, bringing the potential value of the transfer to €2.5 million.
Atletico Mineiro described Fred's return as a reunion with a player who came through the club's youth system and remained a supporter of the team throughout his career.
The club highlighted Fred's path through Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester United, Fenerbahce and the Brazil national team, as well as his participation in two World Cups.
"The Galo brings back to Brazil a world-class player in a complex and highly significant negotiation," Atletico Mineiro stated, pointing to Fred's experience, competitive level and career at the highest level of international football.
After leaving Fenerbahce for Brazil, Fred bid farewell to the club and its supporters in a social media post. The experienced midfielder thanked Fenerbahce and its fans for their support, reflecting on his three years with the club.
"Thank you Fenerbahce. Years full of learning, dedication and love are behind me. Every match I played in this shirt was very special to me. I will carry the support of the fans, my teammates and everyone who was part of this journey in my heart forever. Thank God for another completed chapter," Fred wrote in his farewell message.
Fred joined Fenerbahce from Manchester United in the summer of 2023 after the Turkish club agreed to pay around €10 million for the Brazilian midfielder.
He went on to make 129 appearances for Fenerbahce across three seasons, scoring 12 goals and providing 21 assists. Fred made 45 appearances for Fenerbahce in the 2025-26 season, scoring four goals and registering nine assists.
Despite being a key part of Fenerbahce's midfield rotation, his future at the club came under uncertainty amid the foreign-player limit in the Turkish Super Lig and the arrival of midfielders such as Matteo Guendouzi and N'Golo Kante.
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