FC Barcelona just dropped €10 million, plus another €4 million in add-ons, on Gabriel Jesus, signing him from Arsenal to a three-year deal finalized earlier today. But get this, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, that’s it for new faces. The window for incoming players is officially slammed shut, with no other incomings expected on deadline day.
That €14 Million Buy Means No Defensive Help is Coming
So, Gabriel Jesus is officially a Catalan, locked in with a three-year contract until 2029, which is huge for their attack. But here’s the kicker: that also means the chase for Ruud Nijstad, the 18-year-old Dutch defender from Eredivisie outfit FC Twente, is officially dead. Think about it, the sporting department, led by Deco, had him tabbed as a key target. They wanted a left-footed center-back to reinforce the squad, and Nijstad seemed perfect with his height, technical ability, and ball-playing qualities. He was an appealing target for the Blaugrana, even pushing hard for the move himself, keen to sign for the La Liga champions. But without a breakthrough in talks, it’s a no-go. With Ronald Araujo and Alvaro Cortes already having parted ways, that center-back spot is looking pretty thin with no reinforcements coming.
They’re Still Clearing House, Though
While no one else is coming in, it’s not exactly quiet on the exit front. Barcelona is still looking to offload some players before the window officially closes. Alvaro Cortes is already in Belgium, ready to finalize his move away from the club. Toni Fernandez is out in Italy doing the same thing, wrapping up his transfer. And Guille Fernandez? He’s travelled to Palma to sign permanently with La Liga 2 club RCD Mallorca for a reported €3-4 million. Then there’s out-of-favor midfielder Marc Casado. The Blaugrana are working hard to find a solution for him, with Deportivo La Coruna in Spain emerging as a potential destination. Plus, he’s got offers from Turkey on the table too. So, while the money isn’t flowing *in* for new faces, they’re definitely still making moves to clear the roster and deal with these exits.
So, with the incoming transfer window officially closed and those key defensive spots still in question, the big question is: how will this Barcelona squad perform? Can their existing defensive core hold up when it really matters? We’ll all be watching to see how this plays out on the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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