FC Barcelona’s search for a new central striker has suffered a major setback. A summer move for Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi has become virtually impossible following a serious injury sustained during pre-season training.
According to The Athletic, Kroupi suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal of his foot during Bournemouth’s pre-season training camp in Austria. The French forward subsequently departed the team’s base and returned to England for medical evaluation.
The 20-year-old forward has undergone successful surgery but is expected to remain sidelined for three to four months. This recovery timeline rules him out for the start of the new domestic season and a significant portion of Bournemouth’s upcoming UEFA Europa League group stage campaign.
Transfer to Barcelona Off the Table
The extended absence effectively ends any possibility of Kroupi joining Barcelona this summer. The Catalan club requires an immediately available striker to bolster their attack, rather than a player who will need several months to return to full match fitness.
Kroupi had emerged as Barcelona’s primary alternative option amid ongoing negotiations for Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick had approved the move before Sporting Director Deco initiated talks to explore a deal.
However, resistance from Bournemouth was already firm. French outlet L’Équipe reported that Barcelona submitted two separate bids under €100 million, both of which were rejected by the Premier League side. Reports citing journalist Gerard Romero indicated that Bournemouth demanded a minimum of €130 million to open formal talks.
Bournemouth Chief Executive Tiago Pinto previously clarified in May that Kroupi’s contract runs for over four years and contains no release clause, reiterating that the Cherries had no intention of selling their prized asset even if a €100 million offer arrived.
Record-Breaking Premier League Debut Campaign
Bournemouth’s firm stance follows Kroupi’s extraordinary breakout season in the Premier League, where he scored 13 goals in 33 appearances—frequently operating behind central striker Evanilson.
His performances saw him become the highest-scoring teenager in a debut Premier League season in history, surpassing the previous record of 12 goals held jointly by Robbie Fowler and Robbie Keane.
