Barcelona Rules Out Signing Laporte

Barcelona has made its stance clear regarding the potential signing of defender Aymeric Laporte during the current transfer window, despite the outstanding level he showcased with the Spanish national team in the 2026 World Cup, preferring not to enter into any negotiations that could spark a dispute with Athletic Bilbao.

According to "Mundo Deportivo," Laporte offered his services to Barcelona during the final stages of the World Cup, but the sporting management does not include him in their plans for the 2026/2027 season, despite appreciating his potential and vast experience.

The report indicated that coach Hans Flick does not see an urgent need to strengthen the defense, given that he has a sufficient number of players and trusts the options available within the team.

The report states that Laporte's contract with Athletic Bilbao, which runs until the summer of 2028, does not include a release clause, meaning that any potential transfer would require negotiations with the Basque club.

This situation is one of the reasons pushing Barcelona to avoid moving towards the deal, so as not to repeat the disagreements experienced with Athletic Bilbao regarding Nico Williams during the summers of 2024 and 2025.

The report confirmed that Laporte had previously caught the attention of Barcelona during Luis Enrique's tenure, but the deal fell through due to Athletic Bilbao's insistence on the release clause at that time. Later financial restrictions also prevented his transfer to the Catalan club.