Barcelona weigh selling Jules Kounde amid financial pressure

Barcelona are debating whether to sell French defender Jules Kounde. Kounde is 27 and under contract until 2030. Kounde joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2022 as a long‑term centre-back. Squad imbalances and tactical needs later shifted him to the right flank, where he became a regular. He has been tasked with defending against elite wingers, recovering space and supporting build‑up play. He also tucks inside as an auxiliary centre-back and provides stability when Barcelona commit numbers forward. Until the 2024/25 season his progress was linear, but the 2025/26 campaign was forgettable as he struggled on the right side. The dip is described as a minor blip in an otherwise excellent Barcelona career. His partnership with teenage winger Lamine Yamal is central to Barcelona’s right‑side play. Kounde’s simplicity and defensive awareness allow Yamal greater freedom and cover him defensively. Financially, Kounde remains one of the few squad members capable of generating a significant transfer fee. His prime‑year status and interest from elite European clubs offer Barcelona needed financial flexibility. Sporting director Deco now faces the decision of whether to cash in or retain Kounde. Barcelona’s past of holding players too long warns against delaying the sale. The accompanying images are credited to Aitor Alcalde, Fran Santiago and Eric Alonso. These photographs illustrate Kounde’s evolution at the club.