# Jules Koundé
**Jules Koundé** (born 1998 in Paris) is a French international footballer who plays as a defender for [FC Barcelona](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-barcelona) in LaLiga and for the France national team. A center back by trade who also plays as a right back, he is known for his pace, one-on-one defending, and comfort on the ball.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1998, Paris, France; family originally from Benin[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) |
| Position | Centre back who also plays as a right back; 181 cm, 84 kg[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) |
| Clubs | FC Girondins de Bordeaux (youth and first team), Sevilla (2019), FC Barcelona (2022–)[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) • [2](https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/jules-kounde-sevilla-manchester-city/) |
| Sevilla transfer | Club record signing, €25m from Bordeaux in June 2019, aged 20[2](https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/jules-kounde-sevilla-manchester-city/) |
| Barcelona contract | Extended to 30 June 2030[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/4341835/jules-kounde-and-fc-barcelona-extend-contract-to-2030) |
| Major honors | Europa League 2019/20 (Sevilla); 3 La Liga titles, 1 Copa del Rey, 3 Spanish Super Cups (Barcelona); UEFA Nations League 2020/21 (France)[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) |
| World Cup | Runner-up with France at Qatar 2022, playing 120 minutes of the final; also in the squads for Euro 2020, Euro 2024, and the 2026 World Cup[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) |
## Early career and Sevilla
Koundé grew up in the outskirts of Bordeaux in southwest France and passed a trial at age 14 to join the youth ranks of [FC Girondins de Bordeaux](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-girondins-de-bordeaux). At 19 he made his first-team debut in a [Coupe de France](https://www.edgepedia.org/coupe-de-france) game against Granville and gradually established himself in the starting eleven.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde)
In June 2019, aged 20, he moved to Sevilla for €25m, becoming the Andalusian club's record signing; the club expected him to prove an investment comparable to Clement Lenglet, who had been sold to Barcelona at a profit.[2](https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/jules-kounde-sevilla-manchester-city/) Under Julen Lopetegui he quickly became an important player and helped Sevilla win the Europa League in 2020.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) Analysts described him as a right-sided central defender who was agile, athletic, and technically gifted enough to play at right back, often acting as the last defender when Sevilla attacked.[2](https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/jules-kounde-sevilla-manchester-city/)
## FC Barcelona
Koundé joined Barcelona in 2022 and spent most of his first season playing mainly at right back, showing his versatility as Barça won [La Liga](https://www.edgepedia.org/la-liga) and the Spanish Super Cup in 2022/23. His first goal for the club came against Espanyol in the match that sealed the league title in May 2023.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) In 2023/24 he made 48 appearances and scored two goals.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde)
Durability became a defining trait at Barcelona. He played 86 consecutive matches, more than any other player in the squad, between 25 November 2023 and 19 April 2025,[4](https://www.fcbarcelona.fr/fr/football/equipe-premiere/actualites/4341835/jules-kounde-renova-amb-el-fc-barcelona-fins-al-2030/featured) and reached 100 appearances for the club during the 2024/25 season.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) Under Hansi Flick in 2024/25 he was a fixture until injury ended his season in April, and he scored the winning goal against Real Madrid in the [Copa del Rey](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-del-rey) final in extra time.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) In 2025/26 he made 47 appearances with three goals and four assists as Barça completed a league and Spanish Super Cup double.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) In August 2025 he extended his contract until 30 June 2030.[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/4341835/jules-kounde-and-fc-barcelona-extend-contract-to-2030)
Asked about his preferred position, he has said that given his roots he will always feel more of a center back than a full back, while remaining available to the coach in both roles.[5](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/4328630/jules-kounde-delighted-to-be-staying)
## Playing style
Barcelona's official profile describes a very fast defender, quick to intercept and good on the ball, difficult to beat one-on-one and comfortable defending high up the pitch because he trusts his recovery pace to get back.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) Tactical analyses note that his use at right back gives the role an attacking outlook, and that he offers solid defensive strength while threatening to attack often.[6](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/jules-kounde-202223-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) He is not especially aggressive in tackling, relying instead on positioning and anticipation.[7](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Total-Football-Magazine-95-October-2023.pdf) FourFourTwo ranked him second among the world's right backs, crediting his work rate and technical ability in both attack and defense under Xavi and Flick.[8](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/player/best-right-backs-in-the-world)
## France
Koundé debuted for France in June 2021 and was part of the squad at Euro 2020 (played in the summer of 2021) that also won the [UEFA Nations League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-nations-league), beating Spain in the final in October 2021.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar he was a vital part of the France side that reached the final, playing 120 minutes against Argentina before being replaced ahead of the penalty shootout.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) He also played at Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.[1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde) By mid-2026 he had earned 54 caps and had never missed a call-up for a technical decision, only through sanction or injury.[9](https://as.com/futbol/seleccion/kounde-todo-eric-nada-f202607-n/)
## References
1. [Jules Koundé player page, FC Barcelona official website](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/futbol/primer-equipo/jugadores/15552/jules-kounde)
2. [Jules Koundé: La Liga Player Watch, The Coaches' Voice](https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/jules-kounde-sevilla-manchester-city/)
3. [Jules Kounde and FC Barcelona extend contract to 2030, FC Barcelona](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/4341835/jules-kounde-and-fc-barcelona-extend-contract-to-2030)
4. [Jules Kounde prolonge au FC Barcelone jusqu'en 2030, FC Barcelona](https://www.fcbarcelona.fr/fr/football/equipe-premiere/actualites/4341835/jules-kounde-renova-amb-el-fc-barcelona-fins-al-2030/featured)
5. [Jules Kounde delighted at Barça, FC Barcelona](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/4328630/jules-kounde-delighted-to-be-staying)
6. [Why the versatile Jules Koundé is one of the best defenders in European football, Total Football Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/jules-kounde-202223-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics)
7. [Total Football Magazine 95, October 2023](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Total-Football-Magazine-95-October-2023.pdf)
8. [Ranked! The 20 best right-backs in the world, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/player/best-right-backs-in-the-world)
9. [Koundé, todo; Eric, nada, AS](https://as.com/futbol/seleccion/kounde-todo-eric-nada-f202607-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › French footballers born 1995 onward › Defenders and goalkeepers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license