Liverpool complete £106m Bradley Barcola signing from PSG | OneFootball

Liverpool have completed the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth an initial £106million (€125m), ending their long pursuit of the France international.

The agreement includes up to another £17m (€20m) in add-ons, while Liverpool have also made a £4.3m (€5m) solidarity payment connected to Lyon’s sell-on entitlement from Barcola’s 2023 move to PSG.

Barcola has signed a five-year contract at Anfield and will wear the No.29 shirt as he begins the next stage of his career in the Premier League.

“It’s a great pride to be able to play for Liverpool,” Barcola said after completing his move. “When I knew about Liverpool’s interest in me, I didn’t ask questions and I knew it was a very big club for me.”

The 23-year-old becomes Liverpool’s third-most expensive signing after Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who both arrived in record-breaking deals last summer.

Barcola also follows Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet in joining permanently this summer, while Ronald Araujo has arrived on loan.

Liverpool identified another winger as a priority following Mohamed Salah’s departure at the end of last season, with Barcola emerging as their leading target despite PSG initially placing a significantly higher valuation on him.

The negotiations stretched deep into August, with Liverpool also exploring moves for Brighton & Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr while attempting to reach an agreement with the French champions.

Barcola arrives after recording 13 goals and seven assists in 49 appearances for PSG last season, although Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue were regularly preferred in Luis Enrique’s attack.

His prospects of remaining in Paris appeared increasingly uncertain after he was an unused substitute in the European Super Cup and then missed PSG’s opening three domestic matchday squads.

The Lyon academy graduate also enhanced his reputation with France at this summer’s World Cup, scoring three times while appearing in all eight of their matches.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola now gains a quick, direct forward capable of operating across the frontline as he continues reshaping the attack following Salah’s departure.

Barcola already has experience of Anfield from his time with PSG and made clear that the atmosphere was part of the attraction of joining Liverpool.

His arrival provides the major attacking addition Liverpool have pursued throughout the summer and adds another proven option to a squad expected to challenge for the Premier League title.

After weeks of negotiations with PSG, Liverpool have finally secured the winger they identified as a central part of their plans for the post-Salah era.