Liverpool gamble £123m on Barcola as Salah exit looms

With Mohamed Salah departing for Trabzonspor, Liverpool have turned to 23‑year‑old French winger Bradley Barcola to fill the void. The club confirmed on 29 August 2026 that the player will travel to Merseyside for a medical within 24 hours, finalising a £123 million transfer.

New manager Andoni Iraola inherits a squad that must replace Salah’s goals after the Egyptian forward moved to Trabzonspor. Liverpool’s earlier bid for Yan Diomande was rejected, leaving the French winger as the top target for weeks.

Barcola's pedigree

Barcola rose through Lyon’s academy before spending three seasons at Paris Saint‑Germain, the reigning European champions. During his time in Paris he collected two Champions Leagues and three Ligue 1 crowns, and recorded 39 goals in 152 appearances. He also featured for France at the summer World Cup, scoring in the third‑place play‑off against England. The Saint side have been a force in Europe.

Deal structure

Liverpool have agreed an initial £106 million fee with Paris Saint‑Germain, with potential add‑ons worth up to £17 million, bringing the total to £123 million. Negotiations, led by sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon, trimmed the original £145 million valuation. The agreement makes Barcola the most expensive summer signing.

Iraola tells Liverpool forwards to exhaust themselves at Anfield

The 23‑year‑old will undergo a medical within the next 24 hours, after which he is expected to sign a five‑year contract. The deal includes performance‑related clauses that could activate the additional £17 million. Liverpool hope the paperwork will be completed before the player joins training at Anfield.

Barber Enzo Dias, whose studio sits in Paris, posted a video on Instagram trimming Barcola’s hair on Friday. The post read ‘last cut for Barcola before Liverpool’, signalling the final preparations ahead of the Merseyside move.

Once the medical is passed, Barcola will travel to Merseyside to finalise his registration and report to Anfield. The transfer represents a strategic shift for Liverpool, aiming to replenish firepower under Iraola’s new philosophy.

Simon Jones, who broke the story on 29 August 2026, said the club expects the paperwork to be lodged imminently. Any delay at the medical could postpone Barcola’s debut, but the club remains confident of a swift completion.