After a few lackluster years, Barça is having a great season. The arrival of Hansi Flick at the Catalan club has greatly improved the team. It’s not just the results that are talking, with the team in contention for three titles and the Super Cup already in the bag, but the German coach has also improved the performance of many of his players, meaning that the only blemish in 2025 was this week’s Champions League defeat, which ended a 24-game unbeaten run.
Jules Koundé, indispensable
There are several players who are untouchable for Hansi Flick. The German coach has placed all his trust in several men who have accumulated many minutes on their legs but continue to offer an unbeatable level of performance, as is the case with Jules Koundé.
The right-back had played every minute until last Tuesday against Mallorca. There, the German coach decided to rest the Frenchman for the Cup final, a decision that, in the end, would prove to be more than wise. Against Mallorca, Jules Koundé ended his spectacular run of 86 consecutive games with Barcelona. The French player had played every minute since November 25, 2023. Until his absence from the match against Mallorca on April 22, 2025, Koundé had played in every official match for Barça (since November 28, 2023).
In the 2023/24 season, he played 39 official matches after that date (24 in LaLiga, 6 in the Champions League, 3 in the Copa del Rey, 2 in the Super Cup, and 4 with France). In the 2024/25 season, he had played 51 official matches for Barça, until April 19 (Barça 4-3 Celta). In addition, Didier Deschamps in France also relies on the player, who is also indispensable. His streak includes matches with both Barça and the French national team, totaling more than 100 consecutive appearances between the two.
Koundé’s renewal
Jules Koundé was an unexpected hero in the Copa del Rey. The French full-back appeared when penalties were looming on the horizon to score a stunning goal that gave Barça the title. The Barça player will go down in the club’s history, which is why Deco aims to renew Jules Koundé’s contract until 2030 before the end of the current season. This seems straightforward, as the player is very settled in Sitges and has the necessary ties to want to stay despite the interest he has attracted.
There is an agreement in principle almost finalized between Barça and Koundé for the player to remain at Barça until 2030. That would be three more seasons, and the player would continue until he is 31. There will be a small salary increase. It may take a little longer to announce because there is no salary space right now, so we will have to wait until the summer.
Arsenal wants to take Koundé away from Barça
His great performance as a Barça player has not gone unnoticed in the major European leagues, and the Frenchman has accumulated suitors. It is well known that Chelsea has been after him for some time. In fact, they already wanted him when the full-back finally signed with Barça, and they are still in the fight, which has now been joined by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
According to various reports, Arsenal’s attempts will be much more serious. With the arrival of Andrea Berta and the promise of a large amount of money to invest, Mikel Arteta’s team will undoubtedly prepare a good offer. According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal is ready to make an effort to change the destination of the former Sevilla player. What’s more, the aforementioned information hints at an offer of €60-65 million to get the green light for the France international.
For their part, Barcelona are finalizing negotiations to secure the services of a defender who is known for his versatility. In addition, the Catalan club is already working on finding a right-back who can give the Frenchman a rest and allow him to continue performing at the same level he has been doing for several seasons as a Barça player.