Rabat – Joan Laporta has revealed that FC Barcelona turned down a €250 million offer for Lamine Yamal, describing the teenager as “untouchable” and central to the club’s future.
Laporta made the revelation during the presentation of his book “Així hem salvat el Barça” (“Here’s How We Saved Barça”), an event that also forms part of his campaign ahead of the club’s presidential elections scheduled for March 15, 2026.
According to Laporta, the offer arrived in 2024, shortly before Euro 2024, when Yamal was just 16 or 17 years old. The proposal reportedly came from Paris Saint-Germain, who were searching for a replacement following Kylian Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid.
At €250 million, the deal would have broken the world transfer record, surpassing the €222 million paid by PSG for Neymar when he left Barcelona in 2017.
🚨 Barcelona president Joan Laporta:
🇪🇸🗣️ “PSG offered us €250M for Lamine Yamal when he was 17-years old and we refused…
Some people thought we were crazy.” 😄 pic.twitter.com/hUMLayrwcA
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 24, 2026
“Some people thought we were crazy to refuse,” Laporta admitted. But, he insisted the decision reflected Barcelona’s belief in their long-term sporting project. Yamal, he said, represents more than market value. He’s the club’s present and future.
Interestingly, in November 2024, PSG publicly denied making such an offer, stating they were not in a position financially to commit to that level of spending at the time.
Now 18, Yamal’s rise has only strengthened Barcelona’s stance. In May 2025, he signed a contract extension until June 2031, with a release clause set at €1 billion, a clear statement of intent from the Catalan club.
His performances have placed him among football’s elite. He finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or and is seen as one of the best players in the world, with an estimated market value of more than €200 million, alongside names such as Erling Haaland and Mbappé.
Also read: Lamine Yamal Makes Major Changes to His Team Mid-Season