Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that Paris Saint-Germain made a €250 million offer for Lamine Yamal in 2024, when the player was just 17 years old. The disclosure, made during a campaign event for upcoming club elections, has sparked renewed discussion about the value of young talent and the financial strategies of Europe’s top clubs.
Laporta stated, according to Jijantes FC, “When PSG offered us €250 million for Lamine Yamal and we rejected it, he was 17 years old; some people thought we were crazy.” The offer reportedly came during Yamal’s breakthrough season with Barcelona and shortly before he signed a contract renewal with a €1 billion buyout clause.
The claim has been met with a swift denial from PSG. Sources at “La Factory,” as reported by Telegrafi, have described the offer as “categorically false,” asserting that no such bid was ever submitted to Barcelona and that such a transfer would have violated financial fair play regulations.
Yamal, now 18, has continued to excel for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. He finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting, behind Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé. In 139 appearances for Barcelona, he has scored 40 goals and provided 48 assists. His current contract with the club extends through 2031.
Laporta’s revelation comes as he seeks re-election as Barcelona president on March 15th, where he is considered the frontrunner. The timing of the announcement has led to speculation about its political motivations, with some suggesting It’s intended to demonstrate his commitment to developing and retaining young talent at the club.
Jan Soler, an advisor to Laporta, also discussed the offer with Cadena Ser, confirming that a €250 million bid had been discussed between the agents of both clubs when Yamal was on the verge of renewing his contract. This corroborates Laporta’s account, despite PSG’s denial.
Fabrizio Romano reported on X (formerly Twitter) that Laporta directly stated PSG offered €250 million for Yamal two years ago. This adds further weight to the claim, despite the conflicting statements from the French club.
Barcelona rejected the offer and Yamal subsequently signed a new long-term contract, solidifying his future with the Catalan club. The situation highlights the intense competition among Europe’s elite clubs for promising young players and the lengths to which they are willing to go to secure their services.
