{"id":72731,"date":"2026-08-19T17:21:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/72731\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T17:21:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:21:10","slug":"arsenal-move-no-longer-a-possibility-for-exit-linked-barcelona-defender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/72731\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal move no longer a possibility for exit-linked Barcelona defender"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the Barcelona backline is mostly settled for the season ahead, Jules Kounde appears to be one of those players who may leave the club in the near future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even in the ongoing summer transfer window, the player was linked with a move away from Camp Nou, with Arsenal reportedly interested in his services.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This came on the back of Kounde\u2019s inconsistent 2025\/26 campaign, where the Frenchman was criticised a lot for not being able to provide optimal defensive coverage on the right flank.<\/p>\n<p>Arsenal move no longer an option<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sport.es\/es\/noticias\/barca\/cierra-puerta-kounde-133482707\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">SPORT<\/a>, a move to Arsenal is no longer a possibility of Jules Kounde this sumemr as the Gunners have recently signed a new defender.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/fc-barcelona-v-atletico-de-madrid-uefa-champions-league-2025-26-quarter-final-first-leg-1-2-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona\" class=\"wp-image-208651\"  \/>Kounde will not leave Barcelona this summer. (Photo by Eric Alonso\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The defender in question is Ezri Konsa. Arsenal have completed a deal worth around \u20ac68 million for the versatile Aston Villa centre-back, who can operate at both centre-back and right-back, effectively closing the door on any interest in Kounde from the Emirates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The speculation around Kounde had been fuelled by the presence of his agent, Jonathan Kebe, at the Ciutat Esportiva.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is coupled with a more complicated situation at right-back, where Eric Garcia now appears to be first choice, with Xavi Espart also used there by Flick during pre-season. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also well known that Kounde has always felt more suited to playing centrally rather than at full-back.<\/p>\n<p>Kounde wants to stay<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/france-v-spain-semi-final-fifa-world-cup-2026-14-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona and France\" class=\"wp-image-206183\"  \/>Kounde may feature as a centre-back this season. (Photo by David Ramos\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the swirling rumours, there is <a href=\"https:\/\/barcauniversal.com\/barcelona-defender-has-no-intention-of-leaving-despite-interest-from-arsenal-psg-and-others\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">little indication Kounde is actively pushing for an exit<\/a>, with the player having consistently made his desire to stay clear.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking in June, Kounde was direct about his future. \u201cI have a contract until 2030. In my mind, it\u2019s quite clear. I\u2019m at Bar\u00e7a and I hope to stay there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notably, with Ronald Araujo having since left on loan to Liverpool, Flick may increasingly view <a href=\"https:\/\/barcauniversal.com\/exit-linked-barcelona-defender-could-return-to-his-original-position-this-season-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Kounde as a genuine option at centre-back<\/a> rather than purely at right-back, a role better suited to his own preference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kounde impressed for France at the World Cup, helping them reach the semi-finals before a fourth-place finish, and will now be eager to carry that form into the new season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While the Barcelona backline is mostly settled for the season ahead, Jules Kounde appears to be one of&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":69061,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[366,92,222,548],"class_list":["post-72731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-barcelona","tag-arsenal","tag-barcelona","tag-barcelona-news","tag-jules-kounde"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72731"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72731\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}