Liverpool signed Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for an initial £106m (€125m), with add-ons that could take the total to £123m, according to The Athletic and The Guardian, who confirmed the deal on August 31. The 23-year-old France forward signed a five-year contract running to 2031 and will wear the No 29 shirt at Anfield.
The fee makes Barcola Liverpool’s third most expensive signing on record, behind Alexander Isak (£125m) and Florian Wirtz (£116.5m), per The Athletic. Liverpool also made a £4.3m solidarity payment to Lyon, covering the sell-on clause from Barcola’s 2023 move to PSG from his boyhood club.
How the deal came together
PSG opened discussions asking for around £145m, but a key round of talks on Tuesday produced a breakthrough. Sporting director Richard Hughes, CEO Billy Hogan and FSG president Mike Gordon led Liverpool’s side of the table, while PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi represented the selling club. The two parties settled on £106m up front, with a further £17m available in conditional add-ons.
Barcola made the move considerably easier to complete. Despite reported interest from other clubs, he was willing only to join Liverpool. On the club’s official website he said: ‘When I knew about Liverpool’s interest in me, I didn’t ask questions and I knew it was a very big club for me.’ He turns 24 on the Wednesday following the signing.
Why PSG let him go
Barcola made 152 appearances for PSG across all competitions, scoring 39 goals and contributing 37 assists, per The Athletic. Last season alone he registered 13 goals and 7 assists in 49 appearances. Productive numbers, but his standing at the club had slipped heading into 2026-27. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue moved ahead of him in the pecking order, and he was absent from PSG’s squad for their opening domestic fixtures against Lens, Rennes and Lille. He was also an unused substitute in the European Super Cup win over Aston Villa.
With two years remaining on his contract and his game time shrinking, PSG had a financial incentive to sell rather than allow him to run down his deal. Liverpool’s willingness to meet a substantial portion of the original asking price made the conversation relatively straightforward once both sporting directors engaged seriously.
Replacing Salah, and the questions that raises
Liverpool identified Barcola specifically to address the gap created by Mohamed Salah’s departure at the end of last season. Manager Andoni Iraola, speaking on Thursday before the deal was finalized, acknowledged the urgency openly: ‘We are trying to sign in that position. It’s evident we are trying to improve or to fill that position because we don’t have the numbers. I hope we can have good news soon.’ Barcola played all eight games at the 2026 World Cup and scored three goals for France, arriving with significant experience at the highest level.
The fit is not without debate. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher raised a pointed concern after the move was confirmed: ‘He’s a left winger for me. They don’t have anyone who looks comfortable playing on the right but they have four players in the squad before Barcola joins who can play off the left. In terms of balance of the squad, it’s not the position Liverpool need.’ Barcola spoke with straightforward ambition about what he hopes to achieve: ‘I hope to achieve very big things. First of all, winning the Premier League. It’s one of my biggest dreams in my life. I had the chance to play twice in this stadium and I saw the atmosphere and how the fans were behind the Liverpool players.’
FAQ
How much did Liverpool pay for Bradley Barcola?
Liverpool paid an initial £106m (€125m) for Barcola, with add-ons that could take the total package to £123m. Liverpool also made a separate £4.3m solidarity payment to Lyon.
How long is Bradley Barcola’s contract at Liverpool?
Barcola signed a five-year contract with Liverpool, running until 2031. He will wear the No 29 shirt.
How old is Bradley Barcola and what position does he play?
Barcola is 23 years old, turning 24 shortly after completing the move. He is a France international who plays as a forward or wide forward.
Liverpool
Paris Saint Germain
Bradley Barcola