Why Barcelona must keep hold of Jules Koundé

BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 09: Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6, football match played between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Francfort?? at Spotify Camp Nou stadium on December 09, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images As Atlético Madrid edged to a 2-0 first-leg victory in the Champions League on Wednesday night, the hundreds of millions of Barcelona fans across the globe began to voice their displeasure and highlight the need for a complete summer rebuild.

Such is the club’s weighty standard that, even after a domestic treble and a run to the Champions League semifinals, and even amid a season that saw them win the Supercopa de España and reach the Copa del Rey semifinals, Barcelona fans are already demanding change. Even with the club sitting seven points clear atop the LaLiga table with merely eight matches to go, even with the Blaugranas on track to become the first team in a decade to win back-to-back LaLiga titles, it seems that isn’t quite good enough. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona are able to turn around the two-goal deficit next week and book their ticket to the semifinals, but it’s clear that plenty of changes are scheduled for the summer.

Barcelona are still weighing up whether to trigger their purchase option on Marcus Rashford , while Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen are expected to depart following the expiry of their contracts. A decision also needs to be made on loanee Joao Cancelo. Other players including Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, and Marc-André ter Stegen could be on the chopping block as well.

However, one player who should be considered off-limits with regards to a potential sale is Jules Koundé. Born on November 12, 1998, Koundé was raised in Paris but got his start in professional football with Girondins de Bordeaux. Under the watchful eye of Gus Poyet , Koundé was able to make the step up from the youth team to the first team, managing four goals and one assist in 70 appearances, and eventually earning the interest of Sevilla, who signed him for €25 million.