Report | Barcelona sign Real Betis star Junior Firpo for €25 million
Highly rated Real Betis defender, Junior Firpo, has agreed to join Barcelona. The clubs have agreed on an initial payment of €18m for the left-back, with potential add ons that could reach up to €25m. The player is about to sign a five-year deal, making him Barcelona’s fifth signing of the summer.
Barcelona have been scouting Real Betis star Junior Firpo throughout this summer transfer window. But, negotiations were accelerated this week, and the deal has been finally completed. The Spanish U-21 player had a €40m release clause to his name but that wasn’t the asking price, with Betis willing to sell at a price much lower than that.
The player has been signed as a backup for Spanish International Jordi Alba and a hopeful first-team star in the near future. Barcelona will probably look forward to him for taking over the reins when the Alba does indeed retire.
Ever since Lucas Digne left for Everton, the Balugrana have been without a player who can provide support to Alba at left-back. This has seen Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde reveal that signing a new left-back was a top priority, with a host of other players were considered for the position.
Bayern Munich’s David Alaba was on the club’s radar too alongside Alberto Moreno and Nacho Monreal, but they finally decided on Firpo. It is expected that the remaining paperwork will be completed over the weekend. It would enable the 22-year-old to travel to the US with the rest of the Barcelona first team.