Luuk de Jong will exchange Sevilla for Barcelona, the Catalan club announced in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. Barcelona also has an option to buy. The arrival of the Dutchman is Barcelona’s answer to the departure of Antoine Griezmann, who has already closed the door of the Camp Nou behind him after two seasons and returns to Atlético Madrid. In the last hour of the transfer market there was still speculation about the cancellation of both transfers, in connection with the possible cancellation of the transfer from Saúl Ñíguez to Chelsea, but all the paperwork was handed in on time and at 03:34 a.m. Barcelona came with the redeeming message. .
Ronald Koeman gave the green light to get De Jong because he is a different type of attacker than he already has with strikers like Memphis Depay and the still injured Sergio Aguero. The Barcelona coach also knows De Jong from their joint period with the Dutch national team and knows that his compatriot will not make a fuss about a role as a stand-in and/or pinch hitter at a club like Barcelona.
De Jong, 31, transferred from PSV to Sevilla in the summer of 2019 for 12.5 million euros. The 38-time international of the Dutch scored 112 goals for the Eindhoven team in 204 official matches. At Sevilla, he stuck to 19 goals in 94 games in all competitions. Last season, in particular, he appeared less in the story, partly because of the good form of Youssef En-Nesyri. In his first year, De Jong did play an important role in conquering the Europa League, with a goal in the semi-final against Manchester United and two goals in the final against Sevilla.
Sevilla also strengthened itself this summer with Rafa Mir of Wolverhampton Wanderers, so that the chances for De Jong on playing time were already very small. In recent competition matches, the Dutchman was not even in the selection of Julen Lopetegui, although there was no pressure on him from the club management to leave and he wanted to take his chance until at least January. Under the current circumstances, however, all parties are at peace with this transfer.
Barcelona have had a very busy final day of the transfer market. The departure of Ilaix Moriba to RB Leipzig was completed for a minimum of 16 million euros and a maximum of 22 million euros, as was the sale of Emerson Royal to Tottenham Hotspur for 25 million euros. Rey Manaj was also waved goodbye: the attacker has been leased for three tons to Spezia, which has an option to buy three million euros. In the closing hours, Griezmann’s return to Atlético was arranged.
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