Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf believes Bradley Barcola is not worth the money Liverpool spent to sign him from PSG.
Frank Leboeuf has claimed Bradley Barcola is not worth the £123 million Liverpool spent on him, although he believes the French forward deserves time to adapt to the demands of English football.
Former France and Chelsea defender Leboeuf has questioned Liverpool’s decision to make the winger their second-most expensive signing in the club’s history. Barcola joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old is yet to register a goal or assist for Andoni Iraola’s side and has not completed a full 90 minutes for the Reds. Those early struggles have led to criticism, with Leboeuf arguing that Barcola was not worth the huge transfer fee paid for his services.
“Bradley Barcola wasn’t worth that money because nobody is, transfer fees have become astronomical across the board. That said, it’s a great opportunity for Barcola to play for clubs like Lyon, PSG and now Liverpool,” Leboeuf said via the Mirror.
Leboeuf nevertheless believes the move represents an excellent opportunity for Barcola, who has already done wonders at Lyon and PSG. He also urged the Merseyside club’s supporters to remain patient with the winger, pointing towards the differences between Ligue 1 and the Premier League as one of the reasons behind his slow start.
“He needs time to adapt because the Premier League is different. He will get less space than he had at PSG under Luis Enrique,” the former Chelsea defender explained.
Barcola’s move also comes during a significant period of change at Liverpool. Iraola is attempting to reshape the team that has undergone significant changes over the last two summers.
The Reds have made an unbeaten start across all competitions, sitting sixth in the Premier League after two wins and three draws from their opening five games. Their 1-0 victory over Bournemouth before the international break also gave them three consecutive clean sheets. So, things are certainly improving for them.
Barcola could eventually shine at Liverpool
Barcola’s record at PSG suggests there is plenty of ability for Liverpool to work with. The Frenchman made 152 appearances for the Parisian club, scoring 39 goals and providing 37 assists.
He was also involved in 49 matches during the 2025/26 campaign, contributing 20 goals as PSG successfully defended their Champions League title. However, he played fewer than 3,000 minutes and was left on the bench for several important matches.
That lack of a guaranteed starting role eventually helped pave the way for his move to Liverpool, where he is expected to take on greater responsibility. Barcola is not a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah, given that he naturally operates from the left. However, his goals and assists could still help Liverpool cope with the Egyptian’s departure.
The £123 million price tag has already created enormous expectations, but Barcola’s Premier League story is only beginning. For now, Liverpool will hope patience allows their record signing to show why they invested so heavily in him.
