Barcelona has successfully secured a transfer target that Florentino Pérez and Real Madrid were eager to sign, further intensifying their rivalry. Real Madrid faces a defensive crisis, with only one of their three center-backs (Éder Militão, David Alaba, and Antonio Rüdiger) currently available.
In contrast, Barça boasts six central defenders. Now, they’ve added Jonathan Tah to their roster, a player who had been highly coveted by Madrid.
Jonathan Tah, a 29-year-old defensive stalwart from Bayer Leverkusen, has chosen Barcelona over Madrid, despite lucrative offers from other top clubs like Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Arsenal. His current contract with Bayer Leverkusen expires on June 30, 2025, allowing Barça to sign him on a free transfer.
This move is the result of meticulous planning, with Deco finalizing terms with Tah’s agent during a visit to Leverkusen earlier in December. Tah will sign a five-year deal with Barcelona, featuring a salary structure that increases annually, akin to Robert Lewandowski’s contract.
Previously, Bayer Leverkusen demanded €80 million for Tah during the summer transfer window, prompting Barça to wait until his contract expiration to secure him at no cost. This strategic acquisition aligns with the club’s trend of signing key players like Ilkay Gündogan and Andreas Christensen on free transfers.
Tah has been a cornerstone for Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen team, playing every minute of the Bundesliga season so far and contributing two goals.
Additionally, he remains a regular in the German national team. His signing is viewed as a future-oriented move, both to strengthen Barça’s defense and to prevent him from joining Real Madrid.
Despite Barça’s existing depth in central defense—featuring Jules Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Íñigo Martínez, Andreas Christensen, Eric García, and youth prospect Pau Cubarsí—the club opted to prioritize Tah. Some speculate the move is less about immediate necessity and more about securing a high-quality defender while simultaneously weakening their rivals.
Barça’s defensive lineup could see changes following Tah’s arrival. While Íñigo Martínez and Cubarsí are deemed untouchable under coach Hansi Flick, Christensen and Eric García are reportedly on the transfer list, with the latter likely to leave in the winter transfer window.
Real Madrid, now in dire need of defensive reinforcements, has lost out on a key target. Meanwhile, Tah is set to inaugurate the new Camp Nou as part of Barça’s future ambitions.
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