Barcelona reach agreement in principle to sign Raphinha from Leeds, the club confirms
Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle to sign Raphinha from Leeds United, the club have confirmed.
The transfer is dependent upon the Brazilian forward passing his medical and brings an end to one of the most talked-about transfer sagas this summer window.
Raphinha, who turned out 65 times in the Premier League for Leeds, scoring 17 goals and registering 12 assists, has been the subject of a bidding war between Barcelona and Chelsea, but he is now set to leave England and wear the Blaugrana colours.
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A statement on Barcelona’s official website read: “FC Barcelona and Leeds United Football Club have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of Raphael Dias Belloli, Raphinha, pending the player passing his medical.”
The deal is believed to be an initial fee of €58m (£49m), but could rise to more than €65m (£55m) if certain conditions are met. Thomas Tuchel must now turn his attention to other targets, with the Blues said to be nearing the completion of Manchester City star Raheem Sterling.
The news of Raphinha’s move to Barcelona comes after Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch confirmed the interest from the Catalan club. “I’m hopeful for him to get this deal done because I know it’s his dream to play for Barcelona,” Marsch recently stated.
Agreement in principle with @LUFC for the transfer of Raphinha
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 13, 2022
The American tactician has evidently been prepared for Raphinha’s seemingly inevitable exit having already bolstered his squad with two promising attacking players, not least Brenden Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra, both of whom relocate to Elland Road with immense promise.
The Yorkshire club have also recruited Tyler Adams, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca and Darko Gyabi, the latter of whom moved from Manchester City following the club’s sale of Kalvin Phillips. The fee generated from both players “allows us to take the club on the next steps we need to go in the future”, Marsch recently commented when asked about his departing stars.
