Castello Lukeba Eyes Barcelona Move as Deco Meets His Agent

“Lukeba would be delighted to go to Barcelona. His dream is to sign for a big European club, and Barça is one of the teams he would like to join,” market insider Fabrizio Romano told Diario Sport.

RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba has placed Barcelona among his preferred future destinations as speculation grows over his next career move, Get Spanish Football News reported. The 23-year-old French international is preparing to leave the German club next summer as he seeks a prominent role at a major European side and a regular spot in the senior French national team.

Defensive Shortages at Barcelona

Barcelona spent the summer failing to secure a new central defender, leaving coach Hansi Flick with a stretched backline during the early-season injury crisis. Sporting director Deco and his team are actively scouting Europe for a left-footed, dynamic centre-back who fits Flick’s tactical demands, according to Goal.com. Lukeba matches that defensive profile closely.

Lukeba recently switched representation from BS Group International to Excellence Sport Nation, an agency that also represents Barcelona defender Jules Koundé. That management change aims to accelerate his departure from Leipzig after a proposed exit stalled during the summer transfer window.

Deco Meets Agency Representatives

Deco met with Lukeba’s new representative at the end of October to discuss a potential transfer, evaluating financial figures and structural payment formulas, Goal.com reported. Both club management and Flick admire the young defender’s ball-playing abilities from the back.

Leipzig must generate more than 100 million euros from player sales next summer, a threshold that could rise further if the club misses out on UEFA Champions League qualification. That financial pressure positions Lukeba as one of the primary candidates for a high-value departure.

Lukeba's Release Clause Drops to 65 Million Euros

A release clause in Lukeba’s contract will drop from 80 million to 65 million euros in the summer of 2027, a shift reported by Sky Germany that could simplify negotiations if the player remains in Germany through next season. Barcelona might also use positive relations established with Leipzig during the Dani Olmo transfer to negotiate flexible payment terms.

While reports indicate strong mutual interest between the player and the Catalan club, Diario Sport noted that discussions remain at an exploratory stage regarding valuation and payment structuring.