Premier League giant remains interested in FC Barcelona defender Jules Kounde despite him being frozen out for club and country according to MARCA, which cited anonymous sources.
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Premier League giant Chelsea remains interested in FC Barcelona defender Jules Kounde despite him being frozen out for club and country according to MARCA, which cited anonymous sources.
Back in the summer of 2022, Chelsea was the frontrunner for the then-Sevilla centre back, and there were even reports that the west Londoners had a bid accepted by his Andalusian employers.
As President Joan Laporta pulled his famous ‘economic levers’, however, the Catalans swooped for Kounde and signed him to a five-year contract.
Over a near half-decade at the Spotify Camp Nou, Kounde has won three La Liga titles and will always be cherished by Culers. That’s much in part thanks to his extra time winner in the 2024/2025 Copa del Rey final win over Real Madrid, which helped seal a domestic treble in Hansi Flick’s first campaign.
Since then, however, Kounde has suffered somewhat of a decline. He’s lost his place in the first XI to Eric Garcia, and has looked unreliable whenever afforded minutes by Flick through Barca’s 100% perfect start to 2026/2027 with seven wins from seven games.
On the international front, after being a starter at the World Cup where France were knocked out of the semifinals by eventual winners Spain, Kounde has also been snubbed.
He hasn’t played a single minute in the extended Nations League September international break for Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus dugout successor Zinedine Zidane so far.
Despite this, Chelsea remains interested in Barcelona defender
Yet according to MARCA, none of this deters Chelsea from trying to make it second time lucky and finally getting Kounde.
At 27, he should be heading towards his peak and not on the downslope. As we’ve seen with a much-improved Ronald Araujo, currently impressing on loan at Liverpool with a €55 million buy option clause, the Urugayan’s former defensive partner might just need a change of scenery to give him a boost.
With Kounde signing a contract until June 30, 2030 in the recent past, Barca could also cash in on him and look to recoup most of the reported €55 million paid to Sevilla back in 2024.
Such funds would go a long way towards buying a much-needed left-sided defender to partner Pau Cubarsi long term, as well as a big number 9 next summer not ignoring the fine job Raphinha is doing converted from the wing.
As for squad planning, Barcelona losing Kounde would still mean there is ample cover at right back among the likes of Garcia, Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart. Simultaneously, though, it’s worth noting that the last two of this trio are being seen more often on the left as of late to Alejandro Balde’s misfortune.
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