Barcelona sued by intermediary over €3 million unpaid commission in deal for key defender | OneFootball

It has been almost three years since FC Barcelona signed Jules Kounde from Sevilla in a deal worth around €50 million.

The 25-year-old French international has grown into an integral member of the team, particularly excelling in the ongoing season at right-back under Hansi Flick.

Past comes back to haunt

Barcelona, though, find themselves in a legal battle over their operation to sign Kounde back in 2022.

Indeed, as reported by Jijantes FC, intermediary and football agent Isaac T. Lopez has filed a lawsuit against Barcelona, alleging non-payment of his commission worth €3 million for the Jules Kounde transfer.

The intermediary was involved in the negotiations that allowed the French defender to join the Catalan club despite Chelsea’s interest.

The events date back to 8 August 2021, when the claimant’s services were requested to strengthen the Catalans’ first-team defence, with a focus on Kounde.

Barcelona signed Kounde in 2022. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

According to the lawsuit, on 10 June 2022, “FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta asked him, due to his good relationship with Monchi, to intervene on behalf of Barcelona” through the “economic levers”, since Chelsea were also interested in the central defender, whose signing was officially announced on 26 July 2022.

The defendant outlines the existence of a debt and demands the unpaid fees for the operation, despite presenting evidence of the work carried out during this period as an intermediary.

The lawsuit specifies that Lopez played “an essential and determining role in the negotiation and subsequent acquisition of Jules Kounde by FC Barcelona.”

The lawsuit, which was accepted by the court this afternoon, adds another legal issue to Barcelona’s current situation, with the Catalans already dealing with various economic and legal challenges.

Following the recent lawsuit filed by sporting director Deco against Victor Font, the club will now have to address this litigation and clarify whether there is an outstanding debt with the intermediary or if the commission payment was not part of the agreed terms.