Paris Saint-Germain have completed the signing of 20-year-old winger Bradley Barcola from Lyon.
The Frenchman has put pen to paper on a five-year contract until June 2028 and moves to Parc de Princes for a reported €45m plus €5m in add-ons.
Despite interest from the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool earlier this month, PSG have swooped in to recruit Barcola, who has become Luis Enrique's 11th signing of the summer transfer window.
Speaking to PSG's official website about his arrival in the French capital, Barcola said: "I'm really happy and proud to be joining such a great club. It's a club with a lot of ambition, and I'm going to give it my all.
"It's a club that is playing in the top competitions and also often wins the league. And as I like to win, that motivated me. I always knew that it was a big club.
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— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 31, 2023
❤️💙 #WelcomeBarcola pic.twitter.com/jvlsSQLqNf
"I was always impressed when playing against them or watching their matches, so when I had the chance to sign for the club, I took it. And of course, in playing with top players, I know that I will grow a lot, that I will be able to get advice from them, and I think that it will be very good for me."
Asked if Enrique played a role in his decision to join PSG, Barcola added: "Yes, of course. I was able to speak with the coach. It's true that he was also able to find the words needed to convince me.
"He made me want to sign for the club even more. He likes to play attacking football, so of course that appeals to me and I know that it will be a privilege to be able to play in that way. I am very happy that I will be coached by a coach like that."
The youngster added: "I can play on the left or the right, so I don't mind switching. On both sides, I think I can bring something to the team.
"It's true that I really like to score, but I equally like picking up assists. I know that I can be lucid enough to make passes in the danger zone, so I will continue doing so."
❤️ #WelcomeBarcola 💙 pic.twitter.com/rpRB5pFIv3
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 31, 2023
Born in Villeurbanne, Barcola joined Lyon's academy in 2010 as an eight-year-old, before gradually working his way through the youth ranks and making his professional debut in November 2021 – providing an assist in a 3-0 home win over Sparta Prague in the Europa League group stage.
The winger went on to score seven goals and register 12 assists in 47 appearances for Les Gones across all competitions, including five goals and eight assists in 26 Ligue 1 games last season.
Barcola will now wear the No.29 shirt for his new club PSG and will battle with the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Marco Asensio for a place in Enrique's starting lineup alongside star forward Kylian Mbappe.
The youngster could be in a position to make his PSG debut against his former club Lyon when the two teams lock horns at the Groupama Stadium for a Ligue 1 clash on Sunday.
Oliver Thomas
