Why Barcelona Bought Memphis Depay

JAKARTA - Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Dutch national team striker Memphis Depay, the La Liga club announced.

Reported by Reuters, from Antara, Sunday, June 20, Barca stated that Depay, whose contract with Olympique Lyonnais expires this month, will sign a contract until the end of the 2022-2023 season with the Netherlands.

Depay, 27, is the second Dutch striker to be signed on a free transfer since the end of the season after Sergio Aguero, who is out of contract with Manchester City.

Defender Eric Garcia has also joined Barca on a free transfer from City as the Spanish giants struggle to pay big players due to the financial crisis.

Manager Ronald Koeman had long admired Depay and coached him with the Dutch national team until he left the job to take charge of Barca last year.

Depay, who also played for PSV Eindhoven and Manchester United, was the top scorer in French Ligue 1 last season.

He scored from the penalty spot in Holland's 2-0 win over Austria at Euro 2020.