Xavi Hernandez can scratch the last item off his wish list after Barcelona struck a deal for France defender Jules Kounde. Barcelona on Thursday said that Sevilla agreed to transfer the highly touted center back for a still-undisclosed sum. The deal will be complete after the 23-year-old Kounde undergoes a medical exam.

Kounde, who also drew interest from Chelsea, will provide Barcelona's coach a skilled and versatile defender as the team tries to transition beyond a backline still led by the 35-year-old Gerard Pique. The France international will join Ronald Araújo (23) and eric García (21) as Barcelona's young core of central defenders playing with Pique.