Barcelona defender in attendance for new club’s La Liga match ahead of €8.5 million transfer

Barcelona defender in attendance for new club’s La Liga match ahead of €8.5 million transfer FC Barcelona defender Hector Fort is set to leave the club and become a Real Sociedad player this season, with the official announcement expected imminently, according to Mundo Deportivo . The 20-year-old right-back was spotted watching the Basque club’s game against Espanyol from the presidential box at Anoeta. Fort travelled to Gipuzkoa today to complete his medical, and sign his new contract after finalising the agreement earlier this week . As things stand, Real Sociedad are hoping to confirm the signing later tonightafter the match and manager Pellegrino Matarazzo’s press conference. Fort is expected to begin working at Zubieta on Sunday. He will become the second signing of the summer for the sporting department led by Erik Bretos. Real Sociedad to pay €8.5 million As per the report, Real Sociedad will pay €8.5 million to Barcelona, while the Catalan club will retain 40% of the player’s rights. That makes Fort the most expensive full-back in Real Sociedad’s history, surpassing the previous record held by Javi López. The Basque club will acquire 60% of his rights and give the defender a long-term contract. Barcelona will also retain a buy-back option worth between €20 million and €25 million during the first few years of the agreement. A solution for both clubs Having spent the last season on loan at Elche, Fort returned to Barcelona in the summer hoping to break into the Hansi Flick’s plans. Fort bids goodbye. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) However, the emergence of Xavi Espart meant that the La Masia graduate did not have a space in the squad, given that the German tactician already had two other senior options at right-back in Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde. Therefore, the move allows Flick to reduce the size of his squad while generating income for Barcelona from a player who was not part of his plans. For Real Sociedad, meanwhile, Matarazzo gets a new right-back to compete with Jon Aramburu after the club decided to move Inaki Ruperez down to the reserve side. Fort’s arrival therefore provides the Basque club with additional depth while Barcelona retain a significant financial and sporting interest in the defender’s future.