Barcelona strengthens defence with €35.9M signing of Lenglet

Barcelona secured the signing of 23-year-old centre-back Clement Lenglet from Sevilla on Thursday after triggering the Frenchman's €35.9-million buyout clause.

Lenglet signed a five-year contract with a €300-million buyout clause, the Catalan club said in a statement.

Lenglet, who makes the jump following an impressive season at Sevilla, now has the opportunity to pair up with countryman Samuel Umtiti in defence.

Barcelona boasts a solid stable of defenders, with Gerard Pique, Thomas Vermaelen, and Yerry Mina also available for selection.

A product of Nancy's academy, Lenglet made the switch to Andalusia in 2017 and became a fixture in an otherwise everchanging lineup. He showed composure under pressure and a penchant for goals off set pieces, scoring three times from dead-ball situations.

"Lenglet, who is left-footed, stands out for his good touch and his combination of strength, intelligence, and, above all, ball skills," reads Barcelona's statement. "This last quality will surely help him on a team like Barca, on which play is defined from the very first touch of the goalkeeper."