The summer at Barcelona was going to focus on keeping the team together with several key renewals, but everything has changed and the priority now is to finalize the desired signings and departures in order to register them, as has already been done with Joan García. That does not mean that Barça is not working on securing the continuity of very important players such as Jules Koundé, with whom there is an agreement, but it will have to wait.
Agreement with Jules Koundé
There has been talk for months about extending the French full-back’s contract with FC Barcelona. The understanding between both parties has always been total, but the signing has not yet been completed. Deco’s goal is to renew Jules Koundé until 2030, but what was previously a priority and wanted to be completed before the end of the season is now on the back burner.
Journalist Ben Jacobs, from GiveMeSport, reported that Barça and Koundé are close to reaching an agreement for the French defender to stay. “Koundé wants to stay, and he has made that clear to Hansi Flick. All parties are now confident that a full agreement will be reached in the coming weeks,” he added.
According to what has been published in recent months, the idea is for the renewal to be for three more seasons and for the player to continue until he is 31. There will be a small salary increase, but right now there is no room in the salary cap and priority is being given to the registration of Joan García and Nico Williams, so the signing of the new document will have to wait.
The importance of Koundé
Jules Koundé is indispensable at Barça for many reasons. During this season, until Hansi Flick decided to rest him against Mallorca, the French player had played every game since November 25, 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 with Barça as of April 19 (Barça 4-3 Celta).
His importance in the starting eleven is clear, and the player showed in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid that he is not only lethal in defense. The full-back became an unexpected hero. In what was his 52nd game of the season, he made history with a goal that won a title. Modric missed, Brahim fell asleep, and Koundé anticipated everyone and unleashed a brutal shot that Courtois could do little about.
An injury slowed the player down
Just when he was at his best, the full-back missed the final stretch of the competition due to injury. He suffered a distal injury to his left thigh biceps femoris, according to the club’s official statement. The injury occurred during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan. There was great concern due to the importance of the player and with the Champions League and La Liga titles still up for grabs.
His natural replacement in the team is Héctor Fort, but the youth player does not have Hansi Flick’s full confidence for the big games. In fact, for months the club considered looking for competition for Koundé, but the coach’s decision in his absence has changed everything. While Fort continues to grow, Eric García has proven to be a luxury resource for the right side of the defense, allowing the club to avoid turning to the transfer market.