On Saturday, FC Barcelona announced the signing of Dutch forward Memphis Depay on a free transfer.
https://twitter.com/FootTheBall/status/1406294834093060097
The transfer which was going on for weeks was unofficially confirmed by both the player and manager Ronald Koeman on Wednesday when they were speaking to the media. Koeman, speaking to the media said, “Memphis said something about it today and I can confirm that. It’s almost done. It hasn’t been signed yet, but almost. I wanted him last January, but if it does happen now, that’s great.”
And on 19th June, the Blaugrana confirmed the Dutchman’s signing through a club statement, which said “FC Barcelona and Memphis Depay have reached an agreement for the player to join the club once his contract with Olympique Lyonnais is at an end. The player will sign a contract until the end of the 2022/23 season.”
✍️ @Memphis
💙❤️ #MemphisCuler— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 19, 2021
Depay, who has been at Lyon since 2016, has top-scored in two of the five seasons while playing at the French club, for whom he has been the captain after Nabil Fekir’s departure in 2019.
The 27-year-old started off at hometown club VV Moordrecht, before making headlines at PSV Eindhoven. His dazzling performances forced English giants Manchester United to spend £25 million in 2015, but the move failed drastically and saw Depay move to Lyon just after 18 months in England.
Depay becomes the fourth signing for Barcelona this season and the third free signing after duo Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia, who arrived from Manchester City.
✍️ @aguerosergiokun
💙❤️ #KunCuler— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 31, 2021
However, it will be interesting to see how the Barcelona attack will pan out in the 2021-22 season as they have an abundance of skilled and talented attackers and have a nice balance of experienced and youth players.
Captain Lionel Messi will be an undisputed starter while Antoine Griezmann has put up superb displays in the recent past. With the supremely talented Ansu Fati set to return after his lengthy injury spell, the Barcelona front-line looks to be one of, if not the scariest in the whole of Europe.