Real Sociedad agree deal to sign Barcelona defender Hector Fort

Real Sociedad have reportedly agreed a deal to sign 20-year-old Barcelona defender Hector Fort for £6.85m, with Barcelona retaining a 50% sell-on clause and a buy-back option worth about £17.14m.

Fort is expected to leave Barcelona after establishing himself through the club’s renowned La Masia academy. The right-back earned a senior-team contract in 2024 after impressing for the club’s youth sides and subsequently made his first-team debut in a 3-2 defeat by Belgian club Royal Antwerp in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

The Spain youth international went on to make 30 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, registering three assists. He then spent last season with Elche, where he played 17 matches, scored three goals and supplied two assists.

Those contributions helped Elche secure promotion to LaLiga, and Fort is now set to continue his career with Real Sociedad.

The reported agreement includes significant protection for Barcelona’s future interest in the player. Alongside the 50% sell-on clause, the Catalan club will have a buy-back clause valued at approximately £17.14m.

Fort will become the latest addition to Real Sociedad’s squad this summer, joining centre-backs Kazunari Kita and Jon Pacheco, as well as left-back Javi Lopez.

The signing would add another young defensive option to the group assembled by American head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. Fort’s move follows a season in which he gained further senior experience with Elche after making his breakthrough at Barcelona.

His debut for Barcelona came in a high-scoring Champions League match against Royal Antwerp. Although Barcelona lost 3-2, the appearance marked Fort’s arrival at senior level after his development within La Masia.

In total, he made 30 appearances for Barcelona before moving to Elche, where his three goals and two assists helped the club achieve promotion to LaLiga. He is now reportedly set to return to the top flight with Real Sociedad.

The proposed transfer represents a further step in Fort’s short career and allows Barcelona to retain a financial interest in his future through both the sell-on and buy-back provisions. For Real Sociedad, he would be the latest of several summer arrivals under Matarazzo, alongside Kita, Pacheco and Lopez.

The deal remains reported as an agreement for Fort to join Real Sociedad, with the transfer fee set at £6.85m and the additional clauses included as part of the arrangement.