Arsenal came late, and by the time they did, Bradley Barcola had already made up his mind. The 23-year-old France forward joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday in a transfer that Anfield had been quietly building for months.

Liverpool confirmed the signing at the AXA Training Centre, subject to international clearance. Barcola will wear the number 29 shirt and has signed a contract to 2031.

Liverpool’s five-year head start

The groundwork goes back to 2021, when Barcola was still at Lyon and Liverpool were the first Premier League club to track him seriously. He chose PSG two years later, but the Anfield recruitment staff never stopped calling. According to reporting by GiveMeSport, journalist David Lynch has said Barcola made his preference for Liverpool clear to every interested club early in the window.

The player added his own explanation to the club website.

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“I had the chance to play twice in this stadium and I saw the atmosphere and how the fans were behind the Liverpool players. When I knew about Liverpool’s interest in me, I didn’t ask questions and I knew it was a very big club for me.”

Arsenal’s late hijack fell short

Arsenal did try. According to reporting by Caught Offside, citing journalist Indy Kaila, the Gunners were prepared to match Liverpool’s financial package in the final week of August.

“Arsenal did make a late move for Bradley Barcola. It was too late #LFC had already done months of groundwork. The player was locked in. Arsenal were even ready to match Liverpool’s offer,” Kaila reported.

Arsenal had earlier considered Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior before turning back to Barcola. By that point, Liverpool’s private conversations with the player had run for weeks, and the France international had no interest in reopening the process.

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PSG dropped their asking price

PSG initially wanted around £145m but softened as Barcola pushed for an exit in search of regular starts. The final structure sees Liverpool pay £106m up front, with a further £17m in add-ons that could take the total to £123m.

That would make Barcola the second most expensive signing in the club’s history, behind only the £125m paid for Alexander Isak from Newcastle in 2025.

Barcola set out his ambition in his first interview as a Liverpool player.

“I hope to achieve very big things. First of all, winning the Premier League, it’s one of my biggest dreams in my life.”

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Head coach Andoni Iraola now has to work Barcola into an attack that already includes Cody Gakpo on the left, a fit Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has publicly questioned. Barcola is expected to be available for Liverpool’s next Premier League fixture once international clearance is processed.

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