Barcelona sign Christensen, Kessie on free transfers

[July 05, 2022]  (Reuters) - Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Denmark defender and free agent Andreas Christensen, the LaLiga club announced on Monday, hours after Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie also joined on a free transfer from AC Milan. 

Serie A - U.S. Sassuolo v AC Milan - Mapei Stadium - Citta del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia, Italy - May 22, 2022 AC Milan's Franck Kessie celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria/File Photo

Christensen will sign a contract with Barcelona until June 2026 and his buy-out clause will be set at 500 million euros ($522.20 million), the Catalan club said in a statement.

The 26-year-old centre back helped Chelsea win the Champions League in the 2020-21 season as well as the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in 2021.

Christensen, who has 56 caps for Denmark, became a free agent after his contract with Chelsea expired last month.

Kessie has also signed a four-year deal and has the same buy-out clause as Christensen.

The Ivory Coast midfielder left AC Milan at the end of his contract in June after helping the Italian club win their first Serie A title in 11 years last season.

Barcelona came second in LaLiga last season, finishing behind rivals Real Madrid.

($1 = 0.9575 euros)

(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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