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Barcelona ready to sanction Hector Fort exit amid Fulham interest

·By Carlos Volcano
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Barcelona ready to sanction Hector Fort exit amid Fulham interest

Barcelona/X.com

Barcelona are ready to sanction Héctor Fort's departure this summer, whether on loan or permanently, though the 20-year-old right-back has yet to decide.

Interest in the versatile academy graduate has come from clubs in both Spain and abroad, with Fulham, managed by Álvaro Arbeloa, among the most active suitors. Fort's contract at Camp Nou runs until June 2029, and while several clubs have reached out to both Barcelona and the player's camp in recent days, nothing has been decided. Fort is primarily a right-back but can also cover the opposite flank.

For now, the defender is not planning another exit, having only just returned from a loan spell at Elche.

He was similarly reluctant to leave Barcelona at the start of last season before eventually agreeing to the move, and went on to make 17 appearances for the Alicante club — 14 in LaLiga and three in the Copa del Rey — before a serious shoulder injury cut his campaign short.

The picture at Barcelona has shifted since his return. Ronald Araújo's loan move to Liverpool has freed up space in Hansi Flick's plans, but the German coach still has Jules Koundé as his first-choice right-back, with Eric García also in the mix and João Cancelo closing in on a permanent return to the club.

Academy product Xavi Espart has also impressed during pre-season and won Flick's trust, further squeezing Fort's path to minutes.

Barcelona would prefer to sell Fort outright if the right offer arrives, having already fielded contact over a possible move to Fulham as well as interest from clubs in the Bundesliga and Premier League.

According to Diario Sport, the club is looking for a fee in the region of €10 million and would likely insist on a buy-back clause to retain future control over the player. Fort, who made 30 appearances for the first team across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, has not yet made a firm decision on his future and is waiting to see how the transfer market develops before committing either way.

His eventual choice is likely to hinge on how much of a role Flick is prepared to offer him if he decides to stay and fight for his place.