Barcelona coach Hansi Flick wants to sign RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba. Spanish journalist Gerard Romero reported the news on Tuesday during a live stream for Jijantes, with the story later picked up by sports.yahoo.com. Flick is seeking a left-footed centre-back after Ronald Araújo's departure to Liverpool left a gap in Barcelona's defensive options.
Why is Barcelona looking for a defender?
Ronald Araújo's move to Liverpool has significantly depleted Barcelona's defensive depth. Sporting director Deco is therefore monitoring the transfer market for reinforcements. A left-footed centre-back is a specific priority, a profile that Castello Lukeba fits perfectly. The Frenchman is the preferred target of coach Hansi Flick, according to Gerard Romero. The Blaugrana insider stated: "Barça could start looking to sign a left-footed centre-back. Laporte has been offered, while the coach, Hansi Flick, really likes Castello Lukeba." Aside from Lukeba, Aymeric Laporte has also been offered to the club, but Flick reportedly favours the RB Leipzig player.
How does Castello Lukeba fit at RB Leipzig?
Castello Lukeba is a key component of the RB Leipzig defence. The club finished the 2025 season in fourth place in the Bundesliga with 56 points from 29 games. Their record was 17 wins, five draws, and seven losses. With 56 goals scored and 36 conceded, the team had a positive goal difference of +20. Their recent form heading into the new season is strong, with five wins in their last five league matches. RB Leipzig, however, trails league leaders Bayern München by 20 points. The next test is a home fixture against Borussia Mönchengladbach on August 29, which you can find on our fixtures page.
What does the interest mean for the coming season?
Barcelona's interest highlights Castello Lukeba's quality and the strength of the RB Leipzig squad. For Die Roten Bullen, a departure just before the season starts would be a sporting challenge. The team has built a solid defence, as shown in last season's stats. A transfer would necessitate a reshuffle in central defence, where players like Josko Gvardiol and Willi Orban currently play key roles. The current squad overview is available on our squad page.
What happens next?
The reports remain speculative, and no official bid has been made yet. RB Leipzig will monitor the situation closely while the immediate focus turns to the upcoming home match against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The team aims to carry the positive momentum from the season finale, symbolized by the WWWLW form streak, into the new campaign. Keeping Lukeba would be significant for the upcoming challenges in the Bundesliga and European competition. You can view last season's final table in our standings overview.
