€35m La Liga defender nears move to Barcelona

FC Barcelona are on the verge of signing a €35m-rated La Liga defender, with the deal now in its final stages.

The move is framed as a smart alternative to Barcelona’s primary defensive target, Alessandro Bastoni, whose price tag sits closer to €70 million and clashes with the club’s ongoing financial constraints under La Liga rules.

Natan’s profile fits Barcelona’s brief for a left‑footed central defender: he is strong in the air, comfortable on the ball, and already used to the intensity of Spain’s top flight after a breakout season with Real Betis.

With the Blaugrana eager to bolster their back line without overextending on wages, the €35 million valuation provides a more manageable entry point into a deal.

The €35m La Liga defender who is now close to a move to Barcelona is Natan Bernardo de Souza, the 23‑year‑old Brazilian who has established himself as a key figure in Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis side, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Natan has already played nearly 3,500 competitive minutes this season, underlining his fitness, consistency and growing importance in central defence.

Real Betis are willing to let him go just one year after signing him for a modest €9 million from Napoli, recognising the rapid rise in his market value and the financial upside of a potential sale.

For Barcelona, the move offers a low‑risk, high‑reward project: a young, left‑footed centre‑back who can slot straight into Hansi Flick’s system while also providing long‑term value.

Natan’s reported openness to stay in La Liga over a move to England only increases Barcelona’s chances of completing the transfer.

If the numbers and contract terms align, his arrival could mark one of the club’s shrewder defensive reinforcements of the summer, giving Camp Nou a more balanced and versatile central‑defensive pairing without bloating the wage bill.