Barcelona confirm agreement to sign Kounde from Sevilla

Barcelona's busy summer continued with Jules Kounde's arrival from Sevilla.

Barcelona announced Thursday that they reached an agreement in principle with Sevilla before the French center-back underwent his medical Friday ahead of the official signing of his five-year contract on Monday.

Barca will pay Sevilla €50 million plus add-ons, according to The Guardian's Fabrizio Romano. His buyout clause is set at €1 billion.

Kounde is Barcelona's fifth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessie, and Andreas Christensen.

He was initially linked with a blockbuster transfer to Chelsea before Barcelona swooped in with a bid to keep the 23-year-old in Spain. Barcelona also beat Chelsea for the right to sign Brazilian winger Raphinha from Leeds United earlier this summer.

Kounde, who joined Sevilla from Bordeaux in 2019, made 32 league appearances for the La Liga outfit last season.