Picture Credit: FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has agreed to a loan deal with Italian Serie A club Unione Sportiva Lecce until 30 June 2023 without a purchase option. Lecce won Italy's Serie B last season and will be back in the highest level of Italian football.
Umtiti arrived in Barcelona in the summer of 2016 from the French club Olympique Lyonnais. In his six seasons in Spain, he has made 133 appearances, including 91 in La Liga and 22 in the Champions League. Umtiti has scored twice for the Catalans, once in the 2016/17 league season and another in the next season.
The Frenchman has won seven different trophies for the Blaugrana which include two La Liga titles in 2017/18 and the 2018/19 seasons; three Copas del Rey trophies in 2016/17, 2017/18and 2020/21 seasons and two Spanish Super Cups in 2016/17 and 2018/19 seasons. While playing for Barça he also won the 2018 World Cup with France.
Agreement with Unione Sportiva Lecce for loan of Umtiti until 30 June 2023
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 25, 2022
The Italian club US Lecce announced the signing of Umtiti through a released statement saying, “Unione Sportiva Lecce announces that it has acquired, on a temporary basis, the right to sports services of the footballer Samuel Umtiti from FC Barcelona. The French defender world champion in 2018 will arrive at Brindisi airport at around 8 pm and will undergo medical examinations tomorrow.”
Barcelona will not be affected by the departure of Umtiti as they have already signed another French defender in Jules Kounde. The 23-year-old signed with Catalans from La Liga rivals Sevilla on a €50m fee. The Frenchman was excited to join the club as he opened up about how he always wanted to join Barcelona.
