Following weeks, or perhaps even months, of FC Barcelona waiting for a deal to be reached that would be mutually beneficial to all parties involved concerning the departure of French central defender Clement Lenglet, an adequate agreement has finally been reached with a team from the English Premier League.
FC Barcelona have officially reached an agreement with Premier League outfit Aston Villa to send 28-year-old French central defender Clement Lenglet on loan at the English club for the 2023/2024 season.
Revealed by FC Barcelona on their official website, the loan will see the Frenchman spend one season away from Barcelona and during this period it is reported that the salary of the 28-year-old will be divided between the two clubs given its substantial measure.
Previously reported by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the player has several other options on the table as well. Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr provided the best financial package, but not the European participation that Lenglet considered to be the most important factor.
Another option was that of Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, where Lenglet had spent last season on loan as well. However, due to financial differences being too apparent between Barcelona and Spurs, the deal did not end up materializing as a result.
Most recently, even fellow La Liga outfit Sevilla was an option for the Barcelona defender. Having arrived from the Andalusian club in 2018 for a fee around €35 million, the player ultimately did not end up having a reunion with his former side.
During his time at the Catalan club thus far, the 28-year-old French defender has made 160 appearances for FC Barcelona during which he has scored 7 goals and even provided 3 assists.
The player has also won a La Liga title with the Spanish giants in 2018/2019, the Copa Del Ray in 2020/2021, as well as the Spanish Super Cup in 2018/2019 alongside that season’s previously mentioned league title. He also has the achievement of having won the 2021 UEFA Nations League with the French National team.
