He FC Barcelona He wanted to get rid of a burden in the form of a million-dollar debt. The Barça club, according to information published in Germanyjust finished paying for the signature of Ousmane Dembele made in the summer of 2017, seven years ago. There were still pending payments Borussia Dortmund which are finally settled.
Dembélé arrived at Barça as a substitute Neymarleft that year for PSG in exchange for the payment of his break clause of 222 million euros. The signing of the French winger, then aged 20, was closed at 105 million euros fixed, plus variables that increased the price over time.
The transaction was thus closed with a final amount of 148 million, according to German media. Picture. This places Dembélé as the third most expensive signing in history behind the aforementioned transfer of Neymar and that of Mbappeof the Monaco to PSG for 180 million, also agreed this summer 2017.
Barça of Jeanne Laportawho inherited this debt like so many others from the stadium Josep Maria Bartomeu to the presidency, closes a dark chapter with this last payment for Dembélé. Since the return of the president, the Frenchman has been on the bill for one of the great soap operas of the Catalan club.
In 2022, Dembélé threatened to leave Barça for free. His contract ended that summer and for months he doubted his continuity, although he ended up accepting an offer in which he would earn 40% less than his previous salary. It was a personal bet Xavi Hernandezdirectly involved in the conversations, even though a year later he was “betrayed” by the player.
Ousmane Dembélé to PSG
When renewing, Dembélé saved himself an escape hatch that he ended up executing in 2023. The French winger’s clause was “only” 50.4 million euros if he notified his proposal before July 31. PSG ended up executing the clause and Barça paid 35.4 million, with the rest of the total amount (15 million) being paid to the player’s representatives.
His departure and now the final price reached by the operation mark the verdict of a ruinous operation for Barça, which has had no positive results either economically or sportingly. Dembélé, during his six years as a player, has been far from meeting expectations, overwhelmed above all by the fifteen injuries he has suffered and which have made him miss up to 119 official matches.
Dembélé played 185 games for Barça, in which he scored 40 goals and provided 42 assists. He won a total of seven titles (three Suspenderstwo Cups and two Spanish Super Cups), but his influence on them was never crucial and he left the club through the back door and with the disapproval of the supporters.
