Just like the Bundesliga, the Primera Division will start a new season in mid-August. Before the 2019/20 season starts in Spain, a number of prominent transfers will be handled. The reigning champions, FC Barcelona, will certainly not remain idle with the start of the new transfer period. SOCCERSCORE tells you which transfers are fixed from FC Barcelona’s point of view and where the Catalans are looking for reinforcements.
As in Germany, the summer transfer window in Spain will also open on 1 July 2019, giving the Spanish first league teams a total of two months to bring their squads up to speed before the summer transfer window closes on 2 September 2019.
Long before the start of the new La Liga season, the 26-time Spanish champions from Barcelona have made their first efforts to strengthen the team for the 2019/20 season. In addition to the imminent return of numerous loan players, the commitment of the talented Ajax player Frenkie de Jong immediately catches the eye.
Apart from 22-year-old de Jong, the return of four more Barca players is planned. In addition to the Emerson awarded to Betis Sevilla at the beginning of the year, the return home of the Portuguese Andre Gomes and the Spaniard Denis Suarez is also imminent.
Brazilian Emerson Aparecido Leite De Souza Junior, 20, is one of FC Barcelona’s youngsters’ hopes. Before moving to Spain, Emerson played for the Brazilian first division club Atletico Mineiro.
After signing a five-year contract with the Catalans at the end of January, the Sao Paulo-born defensive man was immediately sent to Seville to play for Real Betis, where he did not have too long a career.
For Betis Sevilla, Emerson played in only 7 competitive games: six times in the Spanish league and once in the Europa League. Theoretically, the 20-year-old would have to return to the Blaugrana, but this is not only questionable due to the lack of playing practice. The restriction of the squad to a maximum of three non-EU players could also pose a problem.
After the sensational entry of the young Ajax team into the Champions League semi-finals, the European top clubs are really scrambling for the youngsters of Ajax Amsterdam.
The change of Ajax jewel Frenkie de Jong was already announced during the 2018/19 season. De Jong is switching for a record 75 million euros to FC Barcelona, where the Dutch talent of the century was given a contract until 2024.
De Jong’s transfer to the Catalans not only ranks among the top 5 most expensive Barca transfers of all time, but also goes down in history as the most expensive player in Eredivisie.
The summer transfer window in Barcelona determines not only entrances, but also player exits. In the case of three Barca players, the departure is already decided.
The Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella leaves the Catalans and moves to the SD Eibar for a transfer fee of 2 million Euro. The situation is different with the Brazilian Douglas, who has not yet found a new club and is currently still without commitment.
Paco Alcacer probably made the biggest career leap. The 26-year-old Spaniard advanced from Barca reservist to seeded BVB starter within just one season and signed a four-year contract with Borussia Dortmund after borrowing almost one year. The redemption sum amounted to 23 million euros, whereby this sum may rise further due to possible bonuses.
At the end of the 2018/19 season, the contracts of three Barca pros will also expire. Among the professionals who have not yet been offered a new contract are Thomas Vermaelen, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Jeison Murillo. For all three players the contract expires on 30.06.2019.
If it’s FC Barcelona’s turn, then Frenkie de Jong won’t be the only Dutch Barca reinforcement. According to media reports FC Barcelona also wants to secure the services of Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt. Former team mate de Jong would welcome such a change: “Of course I would like it if he went to Barça. But it’s his decision.”
Also a possible change from Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona is not excluded. The 2018 World Champion announced his departure from Atletico Madrid just a few weeks ago. After a change seemed to be extremely probable just a month ago, the Griezmann transfer has now been put on ice for the time being. According to Marca, Barca President Josep Maria Bartomeu currently has “no intention” of engaging the 28-year-old Frenchman.
