Memphis Depay wraps up arrival at FC Barcelona
Memphis Depay completed his transfer-free transfer from Olympique Lyon to FC Barcelona on Saturday. The 27-year-old forward will sign a two-year contract with spanish top club manager Ronald Koeman until mid-2023.
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Memphis has already been linked with a transfer to FC Barcelona in recent weeks, but then some formalities still stood in the way of the switch. Koeman said at the unveiling of his father Martin Koeman’s statue at fc Groningen’s stadium on Wednesday that it was only a matter of time before Memphis signed him.
The 66-time Dutch international did not want to extend his expiring contract with Olympique Lyon, as he was ready for a new challenge after five years. In January he was also close to a transfer to FC Barcelona, but then the Catalans could not meet Lyon’s asking price. FC Barcelona has been hit hard financially by the corona crisis. (Memphis Depay wraps up arrival at FC Barcelona)
Memphis will be reunited with Koeman at FC Barcelona, with whom he worked with the Dutch national team from 2018 to 2020. Under the leadership of the former national coach, Memphis played a large part in the Dutch team’s first qualification for a European Championship since 2012. Koeman left the Netherlands for his dream club FC Barcelona last year.
Memphis flourishes at Lyon (Memphis Depay wraps up arrival at FC Barcelona)
At Lyon, Memphis has 76 goals and 55 assists in 178 games, but prices have not been held. The French took him over from Manchester United in January 2017, who plucked him away from PSV for 34 million euros in the summer of 2015, but in England he failed to live up to the high expectations and scored seven times in 53 games.
Memphis went through psv’s youth academy and made his debut in the first team in September 2011 during the cup match against the amateurs of VVSB (8-0). He scored 50 goals in 124 games. With the Eindhoveners he won the national title (2015), KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Schaal (both in 2012). (Memphis Depay wraps up arrival at FC Barcelona)
Memphis is currently active with the Netherlands at the European Championships. He took advantage of a penalty against Austria (2-0) on Thursday, which helped the Dutch team qualify with one group game to go – monday against North Macedonia for the round of 16. The Netherlands previously beat Ukraine (3-2).
At FC Barcelona, Memphis will be teammate of Frenkie de Jong, who also has an interest in the Netherlands at the European Championship. He’s the fourth purchase for next season. Earlier, FC Barcelona joined Sergio Agüero and Eric García on a free transfer from Manchester City and Emerson Royal for 9 million euros from Real Betis.
