With the World Cup still in full flow, the transfer market hasn’t yet clicked into gear but that hasn’t prevented Atlético Madrid completing a deal for Argentinos Juniors defender Nehuén Pérez.

The 18-year-old has been in Russia with the Argentina squad as part of the under-20 sparring group and has been the subject of interest from Atlético for several months.

Those negotiations have now been completed and Pérez will now travel from Russia to Madrid to complete the medical after already signing a deal.

“I’ve already signed, it’s a dream. I’m very happy, I’m going to Atlético de Madrid,” confirmed Pérez when speaking to the Argentinian press in Russia.

The 18-year-old is yet to make his league debut for Argentinos Juniors, featuring once in the Copa Argentina last May, but has progressed through the youth ranks in La Paternal and within the Argentina set-up.

But despite not yet breaking into the first team and being contracted at the club until 2022, Argentinos Juniors have reportedly pocketed around $3 million for the academy product.

A powerful yet technically gifted central defender, Pérez has been earmarked by Argentina as a player of great potential for the future and Argentinos Juniors are still hopeful that despite accepting the offer, the youngster could remain at the club for another year.

Given his lack of first time experience there are many that drawing comparisons to Atlético’s signing of José Giménez in 2013 after the Uruguayan had featured only a handful of times for Danubio.

Now 23, Giménez has established himself as one of the finest young defenders in world football under Diego Simeone and teammate Diego Godin and the hope will be that Pérez could follow in such footsteps.