Kounde top for appearances in 2024

2024 has certainly been a busy year for Jules Kounde. The French defender has played more games than any other member of the FC Barcelona squad, a total of 54, going to show what a key feature he is in the team.

Versatile and regular

Much of this regularity in the team has been due to his consistency and tremendous physique, as well as his ability to adapt to cover for injured team-mates. Playing both at centre back and right back, his games in the year just ending break down as follows:
La Liga: 37 (all but one of the games played by Barça this season)
Champions League: 10
Copa del Rey: 4
Spanish Super Cup: 2

For Kounde, that equates to 4,643 minutes of competitive football. The closest anyone comes to that amount is Robert Lewandowski (4,143), followed by Pau Cubarsí (3,897), Lamine Yamal (3,560) and Raphinha (3,199).

But it is not just in his defensive duties that Kounde has shone, for he also makes an impact going forward. In 2024, he has scored three goals and has given two assists, and everything suggests that in 2025 under Hansi Flick he is going to continue to be one of the linchpins of the team.