Jules Kounde misses out as Barcelona FINALLY register players ahead of La Liga opener

Jules Kounde has not been registered by Barcelona ahead of the club’s La Liga opener on Saturday, but the club have registered four other new signings.

The Catalan club are currently in financial turmoil – with big money troubles and various internal issues blocking them from registering new players – but have managed to now register Robert Lewandowski, Franck Kessie, Raphinha and Andreas Christensen.

Barcelona were able to register them after raising £85m from selling 24.5 per cent of Barca Studios to Orpehus Media – but will be without Kounde – who joined the club in a deal worth around £45m after they hijacked Chelsea’s move for him, with the centre-back having looked set to move to Stamford Bridge from Sevilla.

Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto have also been registered after agreeing new contracts as Barcelona host Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou on Saturday night.

France international Kounde has been one of the most impressive young central defenders in the top European leagues in the past couple of seasons having signed for Sevilla three years ago from Bordeaux in his homeland, with the La Liga club paying just over £25m for his services, but he now cannot play for Barcelona.

Kounde won the Europa League with Sevilla at the end of his first season in Spain, and was part of the French national team which emerged victorious in the 2020/21 Nations League.

He became Barcelona’s fifth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Kessie, ex-Chelsea defender Christensen, former Leeds United midfielder Raphinha and Poland international striker Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.

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