Liverpool have completed the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for £123million. The Reds will pay an initial fee of £106m, with a potential £17m in add-ons for the winger.
Prolonged negotiations conclude
Barcola was Liverpool's No.1 transfer target in the summer window, but the deal was only finalised the day before the deadline. He completed a medical on Sunday, a day after Andoni Iraola's side drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Liverpool agreed personal terms with Barcola last month, but PSG drove a hard bargain in negotiations. The 23-year-old becomes Liverpool's second most expensive signing of all time, ahead of Florian Wirtz (£116.5m) and behind only Alexander Isak, who cost £125m from Newcastle last summer.
Impact on squad
Barcola is the fourth major signing of the summer window, following Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo. His arrival has thrown into question the future of Cody Gakpo, who could join Manchester City in a £85m deal, with Liverpool looking at Brighton's Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr as replacements.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard praised the deal on TNT Sports before the Nottingham Forest game: "Incredible talent. This is a player who has won two Champions Leagues in the last two years. I don't think he's hit his ceiling yet, still think there's potential there. Growth. He can evolve into an even better player which is very exciting. But it's the type of level of player that's going to help take Liverpool to the next level. So I think it's a fantastic deal."
