Barcelona secures Dani Olmo in €60 million deal from RB Leipzig
Barcelona has bolstered their squad with the signing of Spanish playmaker Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of €60 million ($65 million). The Catalan giants confirmed the deal on Friday, marking the arrival of Olmo as the first major signing under their new coach, Hansi Flick.
“The player has signed a contract with the club for the next six seasons, ending on June 30, 2030, and his release clause is 500 million euros,” Barcelona announced in an official statement.
This substantial release clause reflects the club’s confidence in Olmo’s potential to become a key figure in their pursuit of success.
Olmo, 26, recently emerged as a standout performer at Euro 2024, where he finished as the joint top scorer with three goals, playing a pivotal role in Spain’s triumph as they secured a record fourth European Championship title.
His performance on the international stage solidified his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising attacking midfielders.
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Olmo began his football journey with Barcelona’s youth academy before moving to Dinamo Zagreb in 2014.
His impressive displays in Croatia earned him a transfer to RB Leipzig in 2020, where he continued to develop and succeeded in winning two German cups.
Reflecting on his time at Leipzig, Olmo expressed gratitude on the social media platform X, saying, “A young club, a young player… we grew up, won our first trophies, and made history together. Thank you, RB Leipzig, you’ll forever be in my heart.”
Olmo’s arrival at Barcelona comes at a crucial time, with the club looking to rebuild after a disappointing season under former coach Xavi Hernandez.
The appointment of Hansi Flick in May signaled a new direction for the team, and Olmo is expected to play a significant role in this new era.
Despite Barcelona’s strengthened squad, which now includes midfield stars like Frenkie de Jong, Ilkay Gundogan, and young talents Pedri and Gavi (both currently injured), they are still seen as underdogs compared to their rivals, Real Madrid.
The latter not only claimed both La Liga and the Champions League titles last season but also signed French superstar Kylian Mbappé, further raising the stakes for the upcoming season.
Barcelona is set to kick off their La Liga campaign against Valencia on August 17, with Olmo likely to be an essential component of their strategy as they aim to reclaim domestic and European glory.
