Barcelona sends forward Ousmane Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — France ahead Ousmane Dembele joined Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday after Barcelona agreed to a switch deal price 50.4 million euros ($55.2 million) for the explosive winger.

Dembele’s arrival to PSG on a five-year contract comes amid hypothesis that Neymar could possibly be on his means out. The French powerhouse additionally faces uncertainty over the way forward for Kylian Mbappe.

The 26-year-old Dembele, born in Vernon outdoors Paris, got here up by the Rennais youth academy. He performed the 2016-17 season with Borussia Dortmund earlier than he moved to Spain.

Dembele joined Barcelona in 2017 on a then club-record switch from Dortmund that with variables was set to achieve 147 million euros (then $173 million) because the membership sought a younger expertise after the undesirable exit of Neymar — to PSG.

After struggling critical accidents early in his keep at Barcelona, Dembele consolidated himself as one in all its most irreplaceable gamers because of his velocity and playmaking. He renewed his contract final summer season and was set to remain at Barcelona till the top of subsequent season.

Dembele scored 62 targets in 185 appearances for Barcelona and helped it win three Spanish leagues and two Copa del Rey titles.

His exit comes with the Spanish champion needing to scale back its debt and decrease its wage burden. It will go away Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati as its forwards in assist of star striker Robert Lewandowski.

Barcelona opens its season on Sunday with a go to to Getafe within the Spanish league.