Major Summer News: Barcelona Signs Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig

In a surprising turn of events, Barcelona has agreed to a major €60 million deal to bring Dani Olmo back to Camp Nou. Despite the club’s well-known financial struggles and strict wage cap regulations in La Liga, they’ve made this bold move, showing just how much faith they have in the talented Spaniard. 

V9Bet brings you closer to the man who convinced Barcelona to invest heavily in him, the same man who rose through the ranks of La Masia, Barcelona’s renowned football academy. 

Dani Olmo Shines After Winning the Euro 2024 Golden Boot

Dani Olmo caught the attention of many top European clubs after an outstanding performance at Euro 2024. Initially starting on the bench, Olmo was thrust into action after Pedri’s injury in the quarter-final against Germany, the tournament hosts. At just 26, Olmo netted the equalizer, allowing Mikel Merino to score the winning goal in Spain's 2-1 victory, propelling the team to the semi-finals. 

Olmo wasn’t done, scoring the decisive goal that helped Spain edge past France 2-1 in the semis, earning a place in the finals. Spain went on to win the Euro title, their first in 12 years, with a dramatic 2-1 victory over England. His Golden Boot win only increased his value, and after much negotiation, Barcelona finally met Leipzig’s asking price of €60 million, marking Olmo’s triumphant return to La Liga. 

A Homecoming After a Decade Abroad

Dani Olmo was born in Terrassa, Barcelona, and began his football journey with Espanyol’s youth team at just 8 years old. It wasn’t long before he was recruited by Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. He quickly became known for his sharp instincts in front of goal and grew into a forward with a keen eye for scoring. 

However, in a surprising decision, Olmo chose to sign his first professional contract with Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb after being overshadowed by the arrivals of South Korean talents Jang Gyeolhee and Lee Seung-woo at La Masia. It turned out to be a mistake for Barcelona, as Olmo quickly broke into Dinamo’s first team while his Korean peers struggled. 

In January 2020, RB Leipzig brought him to the Bundesliga, where he played a key role in helping the team secure back-to-back DFB-Pokal titles in 2021/22 and 2022/23. His standout performances at Euro 2024 made it impossible for Barcelona to ignore him any longer, prompting the club to bring their prodigal son home for €60 million. 

Olmo's Versatility: The Key to His Success

Dani Olmo originally made a name for himself as a center-forward, claiming top scorer honors four times during his seven years at La Masia. However, his real talents shone in the No. 10 role, where he could both dribble and create scoring opportunities, while still finishing plays with finesse. For Dinamo Zagreb, he netted 34 goals and contributed 28 assists in his time at the club. 

At RB Leipzig, Olmo evolved further, excelling on both the left and right wings while maintaining his knack for scoring and assisting. In 148 appearances for Leipzig, he scored 29 goals and set up 34 more, proving his ability to adapt across various midfield and attacking roles, including central midfield. 

Dani Olmo Bids Farewell to RB Leipzig

Though his stay at RB Leipzig lasted only four years, Dani Olmo’s impact at the Red Bull Arena was profound. Together, they created memories that will last a lifetime, something Olmo acknowledged in his emotional farewell to the club’s fans on X (formerly Twitter): 

"A new club, young players, and we grew together, winning our first titles together, and making history along the way. The two DFB-Pokal wins and one Super Cup are just part of the journey I will forever cherish. Thank you, RB Leipzig. You will always be in my heart." 

Barcelona’s Other Summer Transfers

New Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has been relatively quiet in the 2024 summer transfer window. In addition to signing Olmo, Barcelona has only brought in Pau Victor, a promising forward from Girona. On the outgoing side, players like João Cancelo, João Félix, Marcos Alonso, and Sergi Roberto have left, with the club making just one significant sale: Julián Araujo to Bournemouth for €10 million. 

However, Flick is not done. Rumors are linking the club with Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, but they will need to pay a hefty €58 million release clause to secure the winger. Barcelona is also eyeing Tottenham Hotspur’s left-back Sergio Reguilón, who will soon be out of contract. Meanwhile, the club is looking to offload surplus players like Ansu Fati, Clément Lenglet, and Eric García. 

Read more: Arsenal covets Mikel Merino, the blockbuster to play with Declan Rice

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Conclusion

Dani Olmo's return to Barcelona is undoubtedly a valuable signing for the club. His versatility across multiple attacking roles, from playmaker to winger to forward, offers Barcelona flexibility in dealing with injuries to key players like Pedri and Gavi. At just 26, Olmo has plenty of football ahead of him, and under Hansi Flick’s new system, he could very well become a key figure in Barcelona’s next era. Stay tuned to V9Bet Sports for more updates on his journey and Barcelona’s exciting season ahead.