FC Barcelona came into this summer transfer window with a clear objective of selling most of their fringe players who were not needed by Xavi for the next season. However, with only a few weeks left in this transfer window, the Catalans have struggled to achieve this objective.
Nevertheless, Barcelona have made a significant stride towards the achievement of this objective as they have officially announced the departure of midfielder Frank Kessie from the Catalan club. The Ivorian midfielder will join the Saudi side Al-Ahli for three years, and his sale will provide Barcelona with €12.5 million.
Kessie joined Barcelona only the last summer, after having a successful season with AC Milan, with whom he won the Scudetto in his last season in Italy. Despite his physical prowess and ability to provide steel in the middle of the pitch, he was unable to get a fixed spot in Xavi’s lineup, particularly because of the presence of other high-quality midfielders in the squad.
Still, Kessie played 43 games with the Catalan club, and despite his lack of a fixed role in the squad, he contributed significantly to the La Liga triumph last season.
His most memorable performance in the blue and garnet jersey came against their archrivals Real Madrid, as he scored a memorable goal in added time to put Barcelona 12 points ahead of the Merengues in March.
As he came as a free agent to Barcelona, a big portion of his €12.5 million transfer fee would be a profit for the club, which the Catalans can use to register new contracts with La Liga.
FC Barcelona have already significantly strengthened the midfield this summer, with the arrivals of Oriol Romeu and Ilkay Gundogan, and Kessie’s departure is unlikely to make Barcelona change their plans for the rest of this summer transfer window.
