Liverpool agree £120m deal for Barcola as PSG winger nears Anfield move

Liverpool have agreed a package worth up to £120 million with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Bradley Barcola, with £100 million of that sum guaranteed, according to The Athletic. The 23-year-old winger would become the second-most expensive player in Liverpool’s history, with the deal yet to be formally finalised.

The agreement ends weeks of uncertainty surrounding the transfer, during which a September 1 deadline had threatened to derail the move entirely. A compromise between the two clubs has cleared the path for Barcola to make his first career move outside of France, joining Arne Slot’s side at Anfield.

Barcola will be able to retain his favoured No. 29 shirt at Liverpool, a number that carries personal significance for the Frenchman. He previously explained the story behind his attachment to it: “It’s actually a funny story. When I was younger, I used to play FIFA. In the story mode with Alex Hunter, this number became symbolic for me. I thought to myself, ‘The day I go pro, it’ll be number 29.’ And here I am, I adopted it, and now I’ll never let it go.”

He would be the first Liverpool player to wear No. 29 since Arthur Melo during the 2022/23 campaign. However, there remains the possibility that Barcola opts for a fresh start by taking the iconic No. 11 shirt, left vacant following Mohamed Salah’s departure from the club earlier this summer.

Barcola will have familiar faces to help him settle on Merseyside, with French internationals Hugo Ekitike and Jeremy Jacquet already at the club. Having been identified as Liverpool’s primary target to replace Salah, the Lyon academy graduate arrives with considerable expectation.

His arrival could have significant consequences for Cody Gakpo, whose future at Anfield has remained uncertain throughout the window. The Netherlands forward attracted interest from both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, though he made an encouraging start to the new season by scoring in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.