Guela Doue chooses Leverkusen over PSG

Ivorian defender Guela Doue will not join Paris Saint-Germain after all.

The Strasbourg right-back, who was briefly linked with the French champions as a possible option to support Achraf Hakimi, has instead agreed to move to Bayer Leverkusen.

PSG never made signing a new right-back a major priority this summer. Luis Enrique felt the squad had enough flexibility already, with players such as Warren Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves, Senny Mayulu and Illia Zabarnyi able to cover different roles if needed. Even so, Doue’s name surfaced in the market as a potential fit.

Leverkusen have now won the race. According to the report, Strasbourg have reached a deal worth 37.5 million euros, bonuses included, and Doue has already given his approval to the Bundesliga switch. The Ivorian defender, who impressed with Strasbourg and also had a strong World Cup with Ivory Coast, is now expected to travel to Germany for a medical and final contract formalities.

For PSG, it is another reminder that their summer search for right-back depth never really became an active chase. For Doue, it is a major step up and a chance to test himself in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues.