Many fans might not even remember him after his short and uneventful stint at the Camp Nou. However, Jean-Clair Todibo could now bring in a good amount of money to FC Barcelona's financial accounts. According to SPORT, West Ham of the Premier League has decided to trigger the purchase option to acquire Jean-Clair Todibo, for whom Barcelona still retained 20% of his sporting rights.

Todibo's Time at Barcelona

Todibo arrived at FC Barcelona during the winter transfer window of the 2018/19 season after making a standout appearance with Toulouse. He had only played 10 matches in Ligue 1, where he left a strong impression playing both as a center-back and a defensive midfielder, and Barcelona acted quickly to sign him for just one million euros with only four months left on his contract.

At that time, he was still a very raw player with a clear lack of experience, which made the leap to LaLiga and representing a club as big as FC Barcelona far too overwhelming for him. So much so that he only played five matches before going on a series of loans to Schalke 04, Benfica, and Nice.

Barcelona Lands a Great Deal with Todibo

It was during his return to Ligue 1 that Todibo finally began to blossom. After half a season on loan at Nice, they decided to sign him permanently as a replacement for William Saliba, who, just a year later, returned to Arsenal and established himself as one of the world’s best center-backs. That deal was rather complex, as Barcelona sold Todibo for €8.5 million… but kept 20% of the rights to any future sale, hoping he would reach the potential they once saw in him.

Todibo spent three and a half seasons at Nice, continually developing until he earned a debut with France… and last summer, offers started pouring in. Juventus seemed the most interested. But in the end, West Ham moved first. They signed him on loan with a purchase option worth €42 million, which they’ve now decided to activate. As a result, Barcelona will receive another €8.5 million for a Todibo they originally signed for just €1 million in 2019. Without a doubt, a smart and unexpected deal that will positively impact the club’s finances.