Barcelona has announced a new five -year contract for defender Jules Kounde, who has accepted their offer to stay in the club until 2030. The Blaugrana has locked the Frenchman, who has been their starting right back in recent seasons.
Kounde had confirmed that he had reached an agreement with the club a few weeks ago, but the announcement was delayed after the signing of Marcus Rashford had occupied the agenda. His previous deal would expire in 2027 and he started to attract the Premier League. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City were all recently connected to a large money movement for Kounde, but MD says he was not interested in leaving Barcelona.
Speaking with the media after he announced the deal himself, Kounde had explained that negotiations with the Blaugrana were fast.
“The club and I had the same idea to stay. I am very happy, I feel comfortable with the team, with the ambition, and I am very grateful that I am in an institution where we are fighting for each title every year. I was not going to leave.”
Kounde will probably compete this season for the right back place next to Eric Garcia, who was impressed last year under the repair of the Frenchman.
“I am only 26, and it is true that I played full-back,” he noticed in the same media appearance. “I hope to take a step forward this year. I am always available for the coach; he knows that I can play in both positions. I will always feel more like a center-back, because I was trained as one, but I am happy.”
With Inigo Martinez in Saudi Arabia, however, it does open a place in the middle of Pau Cubarsi. Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen are favorites for the role, but there is a slim chance that Kounde could enter Garcia on the right.