France winger Bradley Barcola has become Liverpool’s second-most expensive signing after completing his move from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday.
A source close to PSG told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that Liverpool will pay 107 million pounds ($145 million) for the 23-year-old, with a further 20 million euros in easily achievable bonuses.
The total deal, worth up to 124 million pounds, is second only to the 125 million pounds Liverpool paid Newcastle for Sweden striker Alexander Isak.
Barcola’s transfer fee is the highest ever paid for a player from Ligue 1. It is also the 10th transfer worth at least 100 million pounds in Premier League history and the fourth such deal completed this summer.
The 23-year-old is the third forward costing more than 100 million pounds that Liverpool have signed in two years.
Isak arrived at Anfield last year, while Liverpool also paid around 100 million pounds to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. Neither player has yet lived up to the hefty price tag, although Isak missed much of last season because of injury.
Barcola, who signed what Liverpool described as a "long-term deal," had yet to play for PSG this season amid speculation over his future.
"It's a great pride to be able to play for Liverpool. I'm very happy," he told his new club's website Monday.
"It took a long time, but I'm really happy today to be able to play for Liverpool and all I want is to be on the pitch and be able to play.
"I hope to achieve very big things. First of all, winning the Premier League, it's one of my biggest dreams in my life. It is to do that and to stay in this team in the long term. That's why I signed a long contract, and I hope I can do it."
Barcola, a member of the PSG squad that won back-to-back Champions League titles in the past two seasons, has long been a Liverpool target.
He scored 39 goals in 152 appearances and won three successive Ligue 1 titles during his time in the French capital after joining PSG from domestic rivals Lyon in a 38.6 million-pound deal in 2023.
Barcola also scored three goals for France during its run to the semifinals at the recent World Cup.
Liverpool have been looking to strengthen in wide areas since the departure of Mohamed Salah at the end of last season. Luis Diaz's departure the season before left Liverpool's forwards without as much service from the wings.
They have already signed Spain World Cup-winning winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna in the current transfer window, and he has made a bright start, scoring the equalizer in Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. That followed the same scoreline in their Premier League opener at Newcastle on Aug. 23.
Barcola is expected to play on the left wing, with Cody Gakpo pushed down the pecking order and linked with a move to Manchester City.
Barcola's arrival at Anfield sees him reunited with former PSG teammate and current France international Hugo Ekitike, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
"I don't know Jeremy (Jacquet), but I was able to talk to Hugo, who I met in the French team and in my old club," Barcola said.
"He was waiting for me to sign the contract, sending me messages often asking me if I was coming or not.
"I can't wait to get back together and be able to play with him. I already said (told him) that it is done."
Barcola was not always a first-choice player at PSG, with Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue providing stiff competition for places, but he still played a key role in the club's Champions League triumphs.
