Barca agree deal for France defender Samuel Umtiti

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona have agreed a 25-million-euro move for France defender Samuel Umtiti from Lyon, the Spanish giants announced Thursday.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: “Barca have reached an agreement with Lyon to sign him, but it has to be negotiated with the player.

“There’s an agreement for 25 million euros.”

Cameroon-born Umtiti, 22, is currently with the France Euro 2016 squad and looks set to win his first cap in Sunday’s quarter-final against Iceland after the suspension of Adil Rami.

Although he is relatively inexperienced at the top level, Umtiti’s focus, calm, technical ability and pin-point passing as well as a sense of team spirit means he is widely expected to fit in at a top team.

Bartomeu added: “He is with the French team, completely focused. When the competition is over, we’ll make him come, pass the check-up and do all the required procedures to sign him up.”