Bradley Barcola joins Liverpool from PSG for record fee

Liverpool finalised the most expensive transfer of the summer window by signing Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday in a deal worth around £123 million ($166 million).

Liverpool secured its main target of the summer after a monthslong pursuit of a speedy 23-year-old France international who is coming off winning back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG but mainly as an impact substitute, backing up Désiré Doué.

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Now Barcola will expect to be a key part of an expensively assembled Liverpool attack that also includes striker Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who were signed last summer for £125 million ($170 million) and £116 million ($156 million), respectively.

Barcola is primarily a left winger so isn't a like-for-like replacement for Liverpool great Mohamed Salah, who played on the right for nine years before leaving for Trabzonspor to end a trophy-laden spell at Anfield.

The deal will see Liverpool paying £106 million ($143 million) for Barcola, who was part of the France team which lost in the semifinals to Spain at the World Cup this summer, and up to an additional £17 million ($23 million) in potential add-ons. Barcola joined PSG for €45 million ($38.5 million) from Lyon in 2023.

The fee sets a record for a player leaving the French league.

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Barcola, a fast and direct winger, joins a team that has gotten off to a sluggish start to the Premier League, with Liverpool needing late goals to salvage draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in the opening two rounds.

Cody Gakpo and summer signing Víctor Munoz have played on the left wing so far this season. Gakpo reportedly has been a target of Manchester City in the final days of the transfer window.

Liverpool will also play in the Champions League this season.

PSG made a massive profit from Barcola's sale, but without him, the team has struggled to unsettle its opponents’ defenses, drawing its opening two Ligue 1 matches.

Known for his explosive pace, acceleration and ability to stretch defences, Barcola was always capable of creating space for the two-time European champions. That quality could be missing for Luis Enrique’s side this season, although wingers Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Doué still provide plenty of quality on the flanks. 

PSG also reinforced its attack over the summer with the signings of Maghnes Akliouche, Ferran Torres and Mika Godts, helping to offset the loss of depth following Barcola's departure. 

English clubs have spent big this summer – but this is the biggest deal of the lot.

The most expensive previously was Morgan Rogers, who left Aston Villa for Chelsea for $156 million. Next is Elliot Anderson, who joined Man City from Nottingham Forest for $155 million and then it's Sandro Tonali, who signed for Tottenham for $133 million from Newcastle.

The transfer window shuts late Tuesday.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)