Liverpool has finalized the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for a potential fee rising to £123 million. The 23-year-old France winger has signed a five-year contract at Anfield, with a guaranteed fee of £106 million plus possible add-ons.
Barcola expressed his enthusiasm upon joining Liverpool, stating, “It’s a great pride to be able to play for Liverpool. I’m very happy. It took a long time but I’m really happy today to be able to play for Liverpool and all I want is to be on the pitch and be able to play. I hope to achieve very big things. First of all, winning the Premier League – it’s one of my biggest dreams in my life. It is to do that and to stay in this team in the long term – that’s why I signed a long contract – and I hope I can do it.”
Earlier this summer, there was a notable gap in valuation, as PSG had initially asked for about £145 million for Barcola. He is now the third significant signing for Liverpool this summer, following Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo, and joins the club as a long-term target who was eager to make the move to Anfield.
This transfer marks Barcola as Liverpool’s second most expensive signing, just behind their £125 million acquisition of Alexander Isak from Newcastle last summer. In their efforts to bolster the squad, Liverpool aimed to strengthen their wide areas and feel that the acquisitions of Barcola and Munoz align with this strategy. They are not expected to sign additional players unless there are departures from the squad.
There are also reports that Manchester City has been in contact regarding a potential move for Cody Gakpo.
Jamie Carragher has voiced his skepticism about the fit of Barcola, saying, “He’s a left winger for me. They don’t have anyone who looks comfortable playing on the right but they have four players in the squad before Barcola joins who can play off the left. In terms of balance of the squad, it’s not the position Liverpool need.”
