Forward set to leave
Memphis Depay’s troubled time at Barcelona could be set to come to an unexpected end before the summer transfer window draws to a close. Despite having a contract at Camp Nou that is set to run until 2023, sports journalist Fabrizio Romano is now reporting that the player could depart Barça on a free transfer one year earlier than expected. All in an attempt to move the forward on and get his wages off the club’s expense sheet, following reported interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Indeed, Romano reported on Tuesday evening that Depay’s lawyers were now in discussion with the Catalan giants to effectively draw a line under his contract one year prior to its expiration date. This would allow the player to become a free agent and sign for another club without the need for a transfer fee. It would also allow Barça to relinquish themselves from another annual salary. With a market value of €35 million, the 28-year-old player would become the ninth most valuable departure in Barça’s history and their second most valuable player to leave the club on a free transfer – second only to Lionel Messi’s unexpected move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
Messi, Pogba & Co. – The most valuable free transfers in history
Willian – 2020 – Market value: €22.5M
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Chelsea to Arsenal
Last updated: 20 July 2022
Thomas Meunier – 2020 – Market value: €24M
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PSG to Borussia Dortmund
Dele Alli – 2022 – Market value: €25M
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From Tottenham to Everton
Lorenzo Insigne – 2022 – Market value: €25M
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From Napoli to Toronto FC
Sergio Agüero – 2021 – Market value: €25M
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Man City to FC Barcelona
Ander Herrera – 2019 – Market value: €25M
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Man United to PSG
Georginio Wijnaldum – 2021 – Market value: €30M
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Liverpool to PSG
Santi Mina – 2019 – Market value: €30M
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Valencia to Vigo
Emre Can – 2018 – Market value: €30M
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Liverpool to Juventus
James Rodríguez – 2020 – Market value: €32M
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Real Madrid to Everton
Niklas Süle – 2022 – Market value €35M
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Bayern to Borussia Dortmund
Andreas Christensen – 2022 – Market value: €35M
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Chelsea to FC Barcelona
Paulo Dybala – 2022 – Market value €35M
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Juventus to AS Roma
Hakan Calhanoglu – 2021 – Market value: €35M
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AC Milan to Inter Milan
Adrien Rabiot – 2019 – Market value: €35M
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PSG to Juventus
Michael Ballack – 2006 – Market value: €35M
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Bayern Munich to Chelsea
Antonio Rüdiger – 2022 – Market value: €40M
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Chelsea to Real Madrid
Aaron Ramsey – 2019 – Market value: €40M
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Arsenal to Juventus
Leon Goretzka – 2018 – Market value: €40M
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Schalke to Bayern Munich
Stefan de Vrij – 2018 – Market value: €40M
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Lazio to Inter Milan
Franck Kessié – 2022 – Market value €45M
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AC Milan to FC Barcelona
Memphis Depay – 2021 – Market value: €45M
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Olympique Lyon to FC Barcelona
Paul Pogba – 2022 – Market value €48M
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Man United to Juventus
Robert Lewandowski – 2014 – Market value: €50M
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Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich
David Alaba – 2021 – Market value: €55M
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Bayern Munich to Real Madrid
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 2021 – Market value: €60M
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AC Milan to PSG
Lionel Messi – 2021 – Market value: €80M
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FC Barcelona to PSG
FC Barcelona: How Depay’s spell at Barça became a nightmare
Despite a huge amount of fanfare upon his arrival, Depay’s time at Barça hasn’t exactly gone to plan. Over the course of his first season in Spain, the forward only managed to bag 13 goals and two assists in 37 appearances across all competitions. And while that isn’t a terrible return for any player, it hasn’t quite stood up well alongside the expectation thrust upon Depay when he joined the club from Lyon.
Much of the player’s misfortune at the Catalan giants has been outwith his control. For starters, Depay not only expected to play alongside Messi when he made the move to Barça but also then found himself being the club’s de-facto replacement for the Argentina international. And even if the Dutch striker had scored twice as many goals as he managed last season, it would have likely been far too little to fill in Messi’s shoes. Another factor that Depay hasn’t been able to control is Barça’s unstable financial situation. Not only has that led to a huge turnover of players over the course of the past three transfer windows, but it has also led to no less than four star players joining the club in the past six months that will offer direct competition to Depay for game time in Xavi’s team. As such, a departure from the club now seems like a necessity for the player.
Villa, Lewandowski & Neymar – FC Barcelona’s record signings
16. André Gomes | 16/17 for €37m from FC Valencia
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15. Paulinho | 17/18 for €40m from Guangzhou Evergrande
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14. David Villa | 10/11 for €40m from FC Valencia
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13. Malcom | 18/19 for €41m from Bordeaux
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12. Robert Lewandowski | 22/23 for €45m from Bayern Munich
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11. Jules Koundé | 22/23 for €50m from Sevilla
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10. Ferran Torres | 21/22 for €55m from Manchester City
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9. Raphinha | 22/23 for €58m from Leeds Utd
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8. Miralem Pjanic | 20/21 for €60m from Juventus
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7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 09/10 for €69.5 from Inter
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6. Luis Suárez | 14/15 for €81.7m from Liverpool
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5. Frenkie de Jong | 19/20 for €86m from Amsterdam
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4. Neymar | 13/14 for €88m from Santos
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3. Antoine Griezmann | 19/20 for €120m from Atlético
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2. Philippe Coutinho | 17/18 for €135m from Liverpool
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1. Ousmane Dembélé | 17/18 for €140m from Dortmund
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