Barcelona and free agent defender practically in agreement ahead of summer move | OneFootball

According to a report from SPORT, Barcelona are on the verge of sealing a deal with Jonathan Tah, with the German international expected to arrive on a free transfer this summer.

While the move had long been speculated, Tah himself has now confirmed his departure from Bayer Leverkusen, removing any doubts about his future.

“I decided some time ago not to stay here and the club already knows it. As always, I have communicated it openly and everything is already clear,” Tah said.

Hansi Flick’s approval

Behind the scenes, Tah’s move to Barcelona is said to have been approved by Hansi Flick and the club’s sporting management.

The manager sees the centre-back as a perfect fit for his system, particularly appreciating his aerial dominance, tactical awareness, speed, and, crucially, his expertise in managing the offside line.

While no official announcement has been made, all signs point to an advanced understanding between Tah and the Catalan club.

The major IF

Jonathan Tah and Barcelona are in sync. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

Interestingly, for this transfer to happen, Barcelona will need to offload at least one centre-back before finalising the deal to comply with financial fair play and squad registration regulations.

The club has made it clear that departures must come before any reinforcements are locked in.

Meanwhile, Tah has chosen Barcelona over several other offers. In fact, Bayern Munich have been pushing aggressively to keep him in the Bundesliga, and Premier League clubs have dangled significantly higher salaries.

However, the defender seems set on fulfilling his dream of playing in La Liga, and his agent, Pini Zahavi, maintains a close relationship with Joan Laporta, which has been key in negotiations.

His desire to leave Germany and his preference for Barça over wealthier suitors show that this is not merely a financial decision—it is about ambition and the appeal of Barcelona’s sporting project under Flick.

If the club can sort out the registration and make room in defence, Tah could be one of the first major arrivals of the Flick era.