Barcelona cough up €50 million, sign Jules Koundé from Sevilla

The France international will join Ronald Araújo and Éric García as Barcelona’s young core of central defenders with veteran Gerard Piqué

Xavi Hernández can scratch the last item off his wish list after Barcelona struck a deal for France defender Jules Koundé.

Barcelona on Thursday said that Sevilla agreed to transfer the highly touted center back for a still-undisclosed sum. The deal will be complete after the 23-year-old Koundé undergoes a medical exam.

Koundé, who also drew interest from Chelsea, will provide Barcelona’s coach a skilled and versatile defender as the team tries to transition beyond a backline still led by the 35-year-old Gerard Piqué.

The France international will join Ronald Araújo (23) and Éric García (21) as Barcelona’s young core of central defenders playing with Piqué.

Koundé would be Barcelona’s third major signing after it sold 25 per cent of its Spanish league television rights for the next 25 years as it tries to both claw its way out of staggering debt and rebuild a competitive team after winning nothing last season.

Already this month Barcelona secured the transfers of striker Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich and winger Raphinha from Leeds for around a combined €110 million ($111 million).

Spanish sports media reported that the Koundé deal could cost Barcelona another €50 million ($50.8 million).