FC Barcelona sign Martin Braithwaite

FC Barcelona have paid the buy out clause of the player Martin Braithwaite and therefore he is no longer contractually tied to Club Deportivo Leganés. The cost of the clause is 18 million euros. 

The player will sign a contract with the Club for the rest of the season and four more until 30 June 2024 with the buy out clause set at 300 million euros. 

World Cup and La Liga experience 

Born on 5 June 1991 in the port city of Esbjerg, Denmark, Martin Braithwaite Christensen is a tireless striker who is coming to FC Barcelona after making a strong impression in his one year at Leganés.

He started out in the academy at Sædding-Guldager Idrætsforening, after which he joined the biggest club in his city Esbjerg fB, and four years later switched the blue-and-white of EfB for the violet of Toulouse in France. Braithwaite slowly made his mark at TFC, scoring 35 goals in Ligue 1 before changing club and country once again, this time joining Middlesbrough, who were in the English Championship at the time.

After scoring four goals in North Yorkshire, he was headed back to France on loan to Bordeaux, where his four goals helped Girondins into the Europa League. After returning to Middlesbrough, in the 2018/19 winter transfer window he was on the move again, this time to Leganés in Madrid, which is where he has truly made his breakthrough. It was very much thanks to him that the ‘cucumber growers’ managed to stay in the first division. In his first half-season at the club, Real Madrid, Barça, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia and Sevilla were all on the receiving end of his goals, and he has added a further eight this term.

Braithwaite has also earned his spot on the Danish national team. He was at the Russia 2018 World Cup, where his side succumbed to Ivan Rakitic’s Croatia in the last sixteen on penalties.

Braithwaite: More than goals

But Martin Braithwaite does a lot more than put balls in nets. An extremely hard-working, dedicated player, he can play anywhere in the attack. At Leganés, he was also the first line of defence, using his speed to drop back, as well as to produce amazing solo runs as if the ball was stuck to his feet. He’s also a wonderful combination player – in short, he is a headache for any defence to have to deal with.

Presentation on Thursday

This is the schedule for Martin Braithwaite's presentation as a Barça player, streamed live on the official club website:

6:00pm CET: Contract signing at the Palco President Suñol room (private event).

6:45pm CET: Photo session on the pitch at the Camp Nou.

7:15pm CET: Presentation and press conference at Ricard Maxenchs press room.