Barcelona beats out Chelsea, signs defender Jules Kounde
Barcelona has officially won the Jules Kounde sweepstakes, signing the defender after agreeing to a fee of 55 million euros with Sevilla, ESPN reported. Barca beat out Chelsea to sign the 23-year-old center back, which had been making offers to sign him since last summer.
According to ESPN, Kounde was close to signing with the Premier League team but Barca increased their interest last weekend and agreed to personal terms with the French footballer. Barca manager Xavi Hernandez was reportedly very pivotal in getting the deal done.
Kounde scored nine goals over three years playing for Sevilla in Spain. He is the team's sixth big signing of the offseason and the second player Barca has signed before Chelsea could with Raphinha being signed from Leeds United earlier this month.
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