Paris Saint-Germain have reached an agreement in principle with Liverpool for the transfer of winger Bradley Barcola. The deal, reported by The Athletic, is worth an overall package of around £120 million (€140m), with over £100m guaranteed. nytimes.com first reported the story.
Key talks were held on Tuesday to bring clarity to the proposed move, with final important details being ironed out on Thursday. Nothing has been signed yet, but the player is committed to joining the Merseyside club. Negotiations involved Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, CEO Billy Hogan, and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon, while Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi represented the French champions.
Who is Bradley Barcola?
Bradley Barcola is a 23-year-old French international who came through the Lyon academy. He joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 and made 49 appearances in the 2025-26 campaign, contributing 13 goals and seven assists. His performances helped Paris Saint-Germain retain the Ligue 1 title and win the Champions League in successive seasons.
Primarily a left winger who can also operate on the right, Barcola faced direct competition from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue for minutes last term. He was often used from the bench in the latter stages of Paris Saint-Germain's European run. Since breaking into the first team in the 2021-22 season, he has recorded 39 goals and 37 assists in 152 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain. He has two years remaining on his contract and does not want to extend it.
Why is Liverpool signing him?
Barcola emerged as Liverpool's primary target to replace Mohamed Salah earlier this summer. The club was preparing an opening bid as early as July 29. "It has always been the case that the sooner this saga is resolved the better. Now we're nearly there," said Gregg Evans. The reporter added: "Clearly Liverpool need a boost to their attacking ranks and Barcola is the one they've been waiting for all summer."
The potential transfer could have knock-on effects for Cody Gakpo, who has been repeatedly linked with Tottenham Hotspur and was subject to interest from Manchester City this summer. Liverpool's management will now need to balance their squad, which you can view on our squad page.
What is the current situation at Paris Saint-Germain?
Paris Saint-Germain have already started their season without Barcola. He was left out of the matchday squad for their Ligue 1-opening 2-2 draw against Rennes on Sunday, a clear signal of his impending departure. The Parisian club, aiming for a third consecutive treble, must now plan with their current roster, detailed in our stats.
Barcola is also fresh from a successful World Cup with France, where he appeared in all eight matches and scored three goals. His recent international form is an added bonus for Liverpool. Paris Saint-Germain can now focus on defending their Ligue 1 title, where they currently top the standings. Their next fixture is a home match scheduled for this weekend.
