Liverpool gamble on Barcola to revive attack after slow start

Liverpool completed the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, paying a reported £123 million (US$166 million) to secure the 23‑year‑old French forward. The deal marks the most expensive transfer of the summer window and follows a months‑long pursuit.

Why Liverpool needed a new winger

The Reds have struggled for late goals, salvaging draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in the opening two Premier League rounds. Their left side has relied on Cody Gakpo and Víctor Muñoz, while speculation surrounds Gakpo’s possible £85 million move to Manchester City. Liverpool get Barcola to add pace and depth, hoping he can go straight into the starting eleven.

Barcola's price and profile

The transfer fee breaks the record for a player leaving the French league, with an initial £106 million plus up to £17 million in add‑ons, totalling £123 million (US$166 million). Reports list the 2023 fee as 38.5 million, 45 million or 85 million euros, and other reports put the fee at 45 million, 85 million or 100 million euros.

Barcola arrives on a five‑year contract after winning back‑to‑back Champions League titles with PSG, albeit mainly as an impact substitute. He has 28 caps for France and featured in the World Cup semi‑final loss to Spain. In 152 appearances for PSG he recorded 39 goals and 35 assists.

He joins an attack already featuring Alexander Isak, signed for £125 million, and Florian Wirtz, bought for £116 million. Barcola becomes Liverpool’s second‑most‑expensive signing of all time, ahead of Wirtz and behind Isak, and the fourth major arrival of the summer after Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo.

Barcola, a left winger, is not a like‑for‑like replacement for Mohamed Salah, who departed for Trabzonspor after nine years on the right. His speed and ability to stretch defences should complement wingers Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué, who remain at PSG.

Paris Saint‑Germain made a massive profit from the sale, but without Barcola the French side has drawn its opening two Ligue One matches, including the Saturday, March 1, 2025 fixture against Lille at the Parc des Princes where Barcola celebrated his side’s first goal.

Barcola will wear the No 29 shirt at Anfield. He said, “I’m very happy to play for Liverpool,” adding, “We hope I go straight into the squad and help win the Premier League.” LIVERPOOL have completed the signing, and the club now looks to integrate him ahead of their Champions League campaign.