Barcelona have officially signed French international defender Samuel Umtiti from Lyon for €25 million (£21m), and the 22-year-old defender has signed a five-year contract at the Camp Nou. Umtiti is the third twenty-two year old that Barcelona has signed already this summer.
Umtiti was named in France’s 23-man squad for Euro 2016 and featured in both the semi-final win over Germany and the defeat by Portugal in Sunday’s final in Paris.
He will then be unveiled on the pitch at the Nou Camp on Friday afternoon, before appearing in front of a press-conference inside the ground.
Umtiti made 170 appearances for Lyon in five seasons at the Ligue 1 club and was instrumental in helping Lyon finish in second place in Lique 1 behind Paris Saint-Germain making 30 league appearances last term.
He is expected to battle Javier Mascherano and Marc Bartra for the right to partner Gerard Piqué in the heart of the Barca defence.
His capture is another sign of the new transfer policy at the Camp Nou. Young players with potentially high resale values being targeted. Denis Suarez’s arrival earlier in July marked the first deal of the summer and now Umtiti. Barcelona are expected to wrap up their third young signing of the summer with the arrival of 22-year-old defender Lucas Digne from Paris Saint-Germain.
