Jules Koundé has surpassed Éric Abidal as the Frenchman with the most appearances in the history of FCBarcelona, reaching the figure of 194 appearances for the club. The record was sealed last Saturday in the match against Getafe, where the defender scored the third goal of the 3-0 win at the CampNou. With the victory, Barça secured its eighth consecutive victory in the League.
The player, who arrived at the club in 2022 from Sevilla, has experienced a contradictory moment. While not coach HansiFlick's first choice at right back, Koundé has returned to the starting lineup in the match against Getafe after having started the three previous matches on the bench. In the nine official games of the season, the Frenchman has accumulated 351 minutes of play. His goal now is to regain the position he occupied before Flick's arrival and demonstrate his value in the squad.
Koundé's 194th game comes shortly after his best moment at the club, when he scored a great goal "in extremis" in extra time of the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid in the spring of 2025. That same summer, the player signed a contract extension that keeps him at Barça until June 30, 2030. With seven titles in total - three Leagues, three Spanish Super Cups and the Copa del Rey -, In addition to 11 goals and 22 assists, Koundé is already a historical piece of the club.
After the goal against Getafe, Flick praised Koundé, saying that he values him a lot and that he is a professional who constantly trains to improve. The coach recognized the tough competition within the squad and reminded that everyone must be willing to start on the bench when necessary to win titles. Koundé, for his part, commented that he feels good physically and mentally, and that in the second half of the game he could not leave the field without scoring.
With the newly established record, Koundé consolidates himself as a key figure in the history of Barça, at 27 years old. The next step will be to demonstrate his consistency in the next matches and continue contributing to the club's success in the current season.