Alexander Sørloth Scouting Report: Atlético’s Forgotten Goalscorer Ahead of January

Quick Answer

Alexander Sørloth (born 5 December 1995) is a Norwegian striker who has worn Atlético Madrid’s number 9 since the summer of 2024, when he arrived from Villarreal for around €32m. For two seasons he was one of La Liga’s most productive impact strikers. This season started badly: he was injured through the opening weeks, returned in October and, as of 10 November, has 93 La Liga minutes across four substitute appearances without a goal. Jonathan David’s loan arrival and Julián Álvarez’s rising form have pushed him to the margins. Juventus are reported to be back for a January loan; Atlético reportedly wanted around €40m in the summer. Our verdict: monitor closely until the January window.

Player Profile

Career Path

Season Statistics

Data note: 2026-27 figures come from Sørloth’s FotMob page; the 2025-26 totals come from an El Gol Digital report dated 9 November 2026. With only 93 minutes this season, we have not calculated per-90 numbers. FotMob’s match log labels some fixtures home/away inconsistently, although the scores match other sources.

Who is he? A journeyman who found a home

Sørloth’s career has never moved in a straight line. He came through at Rosenborg and then drifted through the Netherlands, Denmark, England and Belgium looking for a club that suited him. Trabzonspor was the turning point: on loan in 2019-20 he scored 33 goals in 49 games and lifted the Turkish Cup. The move to RB Leipzig didn’t work, but two loan seasons at Real Sociedad got him used to La Liga. A 26-goal campaign at Villarreal then earned him the move to Atlético in 2024.

His job in Madrid was clear from day one. He would play alongside or behind Julián Álvarez as the tall finisher who gives Simeone something different in the last half-hour. FotMob credits him with 44 goals in 113 Atlético appearances. That is a strong rate for a player who so often starts on the bench.

Position and role

He is a true penalty-box number 9. He runs in behind with long strides, uses his frame to create space in the area and can finish with either foot or his head. Simeone mostly uses him in a front two, bringing him on when defences tire and the team needs depth and an aerial outlet. Before the Deportivo game in October, the coach called him ‘indispensable’ because his profile is so different from the other forwards’.

Style of play: in and out of possession

His most valuable contribution without the ball is pushing the opposing back line deeper. His runs in behind give Álvarez and Giuliano more room to play in front of the defence. On the ball, his strengths are holding up play with his back to goal and his first touch on long balls. Quick combinations in tight areas and the first pass under pressure are only average. He is at his best in a team that plays short and direct, not one that keeps the ball for long spells.

Why isn’t he playing this season?

He started the season injured and only returned in October. By then the picture had changed. Jonathan David, on a season-long loan from Juventus, scored three goals in his first three games, and Álvarez had found his rhythm. Sørloth hasn’t started a match in October or November and was an unused substitute against Manchester United and Espanyol. His longest outing was 59 minutes in the 2-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern on 3 November. Atlético are still third on 28 points despite losing 2-1 to Barcelona, so the team is getting results without him, and that weakens his bargaining position.

Transfer picture: Juventus and the €40m question

According to El Gol Digital on 9 November 2026, Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus have put Sørloth back on their January list and are first exploring a loan. The report says Atlético wanted around €40m in the summer, when Juventus offered €22m, and that a permanent deal only comes back to life if Atlético drop below that €40m figure. No agreement is in place. With a contract to 2028, Atlético are under no pressure to sell.

International

He has 27 goals in 77 games for Norway, usually as Erling Haaland’s strike partner or his backup. FotMob’s records show he played 45 minutes in a 2-1 World Cup win over Brazil and 68 minutes in a 2-1 defeat to England in 2026.

Physical file

He started 2026-27 injured. We could not confirm the nature or length of the injury from a reliable source, so we have not given details. He has been in every squad since October. For a big 30-year-old striker, a long spell without regular minutes is the thing to watch, because it can cost him sharpness.

The Turkish angle

Turkish football knows Sørloth well: his 33-goal season at Trabzonspor is still one of the best of his career. A Süper Lig move is not realistic today, given his contract to 2028, Atlético’s asking price and competition from clubs like Juventus. If a January loan with shared wages becomes the route, that could change; until then this is a file to monitor.

Strengths

• Finishing — His Villarreal and Atlético seasons show he scores plenty of goals even with limited minutes.
• Aerial threat and physique — A serious target on crosses and set pieces.
• Depth — His runs in behind pin the back line deeper.
• Experience — Has played in La Liga, the Bundesliga, the Premier League and the Süper Lig; 77 caps for Norway.

Weaknesses and Risks

• Lost minutes — 93 La Liga minutes and no starts so far in 2026-27.
• Combination play — Less effective in tight areas and in teams that keep long spells of possession.
• Age and rhythm — At 30, a long stretch without regular football is a risk.
• Price — Atlético’s reported asking price of around €40m does not match his current role.

Cost Scenarios

GegenSports Scout Ratings (/100)

These ratings are GegenSports’ own editorial assessment, not taken from any external platform. Because this season’s sample is tiny, they also draw on his output in previous seasons. The value-for-money rating is kept low because of the current asking price.

Similar Profiles

Sporting Director’s Note

FAQ

Sources and Data Note

This report combines Sørloth’s FotMob player page, an El Gol Digital report dated 9 November 2026 and the Infoatleti squad page. Anything we could not verify, such as the nature of his injury or his 2025-26 La Liga minutes, has been left out. The tactical analysis and ratings are GegenSports’ own work; no other scouting site’s text has been translated or paraphrased.

• FotMob — Alexander Sørloth player page, 2026-27 match log and career table (November 2026)
• El Gol Digital — Juventus’ January interest and Atlético’s asking price (9 November 2026)
• Infoatleti — Atlético Madrid 2026-27 squad and standings (November 2026)

Last updated: 10 November 2026