SAMUEL UMTITI HAS reached an agreement to join Barcelona, both Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas and Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu have confirmed.
The 22-year-old, currently at Euro 2016 with his native France, is one of the Spanish champions’ top summer targets alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos as they look to significantly strengthen their defence ahead of the new season.
And after Lyon president Aulas indicated on Wednesday that the clubs have reached an agreement, Barcelona president Bartomeu has revealed that a €25 million fixed fee has been agreed for the France international.
“We have an agreement with OL for Umtiti for a fixed €25 million without variables,” Bartomeu said.
“There is still a deal to be done with the player. We’ll do it when he is finished participating in the Euro because he is focused.”
“But since Aulas made it official, I confirm that the agreement between clubs is true.”
Bartomeu’s intervention came after Aulas’ comments to RMC Sport on Wednesday, as the Lyon president revealed that the club would allow Umtiti to move to the “club of his heart”.
We anticipate the eventual departure of Umtiti. Samuel has an exclusive agreement for him to join Barcelona,” Aulas told RMC Sport.
“We made a promise that if he could play for the club of his heart, he would leave. It’s part of the commitment which we have made, as was done for Karim Benzema when he went to Real Madrid.
“Right now, Samuel is with Les Bleus and is focussed on the Euro and the fact that he can play Sunday against Iceland. If the three parties agree, it is possible that he will leave us.”
