Bournemouth’s firm stand blocks La Liga chase for Eli Junior Kroupi

Bournemouth have made clear they will keep France Under‑21 forward Eli Junior Kroupi despite growing La Liga interest, with the Premier League club stating the player, signed from Lorient in February 2025 for €13 million, is not for sale this summer.

The club’s recent departures of Andoni Iraola and Marcos Senesi have left a gap in the squad, and Kroupi’s 13 Premier League goals – the highest tally by a player under the age of 20 in a debut campaign – make him a central figure in Bournemouth’s rebuild. President of Football Operations Tiago Pinto has repeatedly called the forward a cornerstone of the club’s future.

Financially, Bournemouth generated £310.4 million from player trading last season, a haul that includes exits such as Antoine Semenyo and Ilya Zabarnyi. This income gives the club the freedom to base decisions on planning rather than price, removing any pressing need to sell.

According to , the Premier League side has a firm transfer stance and no intention of sanctioning a sale of the France Under‑21 striker this summer. The club’s message is that Kroupi is not for sale, regardless of external admiration.

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Barcelona’s search for attacking reinforcements has led them towards Kroupi, with sporting director Deco reportedly an admirer. The interest meets the club’s firm stance, and the Spanish giants have been linked with the forward alongside other elite clubs.

Beyond Barcelona, Chelsea, Paris Saint‑Germain, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Manchester City have also been linked with Kroupi, underscoring the breadth of European interest in the young talent.

Unless there is a dramatic change, Kroupi will remain at Dean Court for the coming season, meaning Barcelona’s interest is likely to stay on hold. The club’s internal determination to move away from the image of a selling side reinforces the decision to keep the forward.

"In the coming years, we won’t have to sell as much. The aim is to achieve stability in the Premier League that allows us to dream a little," a club representative said, highlighting the strategic shift behind the firm stance.