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| Soccer Football - LaLiga - Sevilla v Atletico Madrid - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - December 18, 2021 Atletico Madrid's Thomas Lemar in action with Sevilla's Jules Kounde. (File photo by= REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] Barcelona has reached an agreement in principle to sign French international defender Jules Kounde from Sevilla, both La Liga clubs said on Thursday (Jul 28), Reuters reported. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed. According to media reports, Barcelona will pay €55 million (US$55.82 million) for the 23-year-old center-back.
"The official nature of the deal is dependent on the player passing a medical and the signing of contracts," Barca said in a statement. Chelsea had made several bids for Kounde during last year's transfer window and reports suggested he was close to joining the Premier League club this month before Barcelona made a late push. Barcelona, who also beat Chelsea to the signing of Brazilian winger Raphinha from Leeds United earlier this month, finished second in La Liga last season.
Kounde arrives in Catalonia after three years with Sevilla, where he made over 100 appearances in all competitions and won the Europa League title in his first season after joining from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux in 2019. Barcelona has already strengthened its backline this summer with the addition of center-back Andreas Christensen on a free transfer from Chelsea. The club's spending has been fuelled by the sale of 25 percent of its domestic television rights to investment firm Sixth Street for the next 25 years.
