The cash-strapped FC Barcelona continues to throw millions around. Jules Koundé has transferred from Sevilla FC to the Catalans. Chelsea FC had also made an effort to sign him.
According to “Marca”, Barcelona will pay 50 million euros to the Andalusians for Koundé, ten million could be added in the form of bonus payments. Chelsea FC had apparently made a similar offer, but the 23-year-old opted for the league rivals.
Koundé is considered one of the greatest defensive talents ever. In the summer of 2019, the technically adept and brawling Frenchman moved from Girondins Bordeaux to Sevilla, where he developed at a rapid pace. He won the Europa League with the Red and Whites in 2020 and has eleven caps for the Equipe Tricolore.
Barça has thus signed the second top-class central defender after Andreas Christensen, who is free on transfer. They are joined by Gerard Piqué, Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo, while Clement Lenglet has been loaned to Tottenham Hotspur.
Barcelona’s major assault on the transfer market continues after reaching an “agreement in principle” with Sevilla FC over Koundé. Franck Kessié arrived free of charge for the defensive midfield, and Ousmane Dembelé also received a new contract. Like Christensen, however, they are likely to rake in a hefty salary.
No new signing could be used yet
For Raphinha (Leeds United, 55 million euros plus bonuses) and Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern, 45 million plus bonuses), on the other hand, the Catalans reached deep into their pockets – as they did for Koundé – despite debts of 1.35 billion euros. Barcelona is playing a dangerous game by selling off its silverware in order to beef up its squad. If the bet on the future does not work out, the Catalan house of cards could collapse.
In order to meet La Liga’s salary cap requirements, sales are inevitable, which is why Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay, for example, are still to be sold. Otherwise, no newcomer could be registered and be present for the season opener on 13 August against Rayo Vallecano.
