FC Barcelona Announce Kessie Signing

FC Barcelona have announced the signing of former AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.

The Ivory Coast international became a free agent after June 30, with Barca said to have reached an agreement with the 25-year-old in May.

On Monday July 4, as the Blaugrana kicked off their preseason campaign, the club announced their first signing of the 2022/2023 campaign on their official site and social media.

As confirmed by his new employers, Kessie has penned a four-year deal at the Camp Nou until 2026 – which comes with a €500mn ($533mn) release clause – and will be unveiled on Wednesday.

Helping the Rossoneri to their first Italian Serie A title in 11 years last term, Kessie was described by the “complete midfielder” by the club by “scoring goals, providing assists and working hard defensively”.

“Franck Kessie is a player who contributes in attack and in defence. Capable of winning the ball back in midfield, the African midfielder also has impressive stats as a goalscorer, partly due to his ability to make runs into the penalty area,” it was added.

Kessie will provide back up to aging veteran captain Sergio Busquets in the pivot role moving forward, in an area of the pitch which Frenkie de Jong has acknowledged is his favorite.

In some ways, Kessie’s arrival could speed up the Dutchman’s potential exit to Manchester United, but there are conflicting reports on whether De Jong will accept a contract offer from the Red Devils after it was said that they and Barca are nearing a €65mn ($68mn) plus add-ons transfer agreement.

Though Kessie has finalized terms with Barca, registering him for La Liga and other competitions is a different matter entirely due to the club’s negative salary limit of -€144mn amid debts of $1.5bn.

Ahead of last season, some players including Gerard Pique had to take paycuts so that new acquisitions such as Memphis Depay could be registered, and De Jong has also reportedly been told that he must reduce his wages if he wants to stay in Catalonia as is his apparent wish stated both publicly and in private.