Monaco Breaks Silence: Ansu Fati Emerges in Ligue 1 as a Potential Permanent Move
15 October 2025
Deal Details
Young Spanish forward Ansu Fati has rediscovered his spark with Monaco after joining from Barcelona on a loan that runs through the end of the 2025-2026 season. The arrangement includes a buyout clause that would allow Fati to move to the principality on a permanent basis for €10 million, according to Transfermarkt’s estimates.
Barcelona would also hold a future option to re-sign the player from Monaco for €25 million, and reports suggested Deco, the Blaugrana’s sporting director, hopes to bring him back in the summer of 2026 at a price that could help ease Barca’s financial challenges.
Monaco’s Stance and Fati’s Progress
Barça reportedly cut ties with Fati for a variety of reasons — technical, physical, and financial — amid a decline in his form due to injuries. Fati, now 22, earns a substantial €16 million per year, with Barca paying half and Monaco the other half.
Fati did not convince coach Hansi Flick after returning from a one-year loan at Brighton. Flick preferred other forwards such as Rafinha, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Dani Olmo for Barca’s aggressive pressing. He had stepped away from the pressure of wearing Barca’s number 10 after Messi’s 2021 departure, but the burden of that shirt remained a heavy load for the young Spaniard.
He quickly demonstrated his pace and finishing with Monaco, scoring 6 goals in his first 5 games, renewing talk about a possible permanent move to the French club. Monaco’s chief executive Tiago Scuro said at the press conference introducing the new coach Sebastian Bocconioli that a permanent signing was not on the agenda for now. He added that the priority is to give Fati minutes and regular playing time to keep him a key figure for Monaco.
Scuro also stressed that financial discussions are not urgent; Monaco is protected by the agreement with the player and Barca, focusing on performance on the pitch.
What are Ansu Fati’s numbers with Barcelona? Fati appeared in 123 matches across all competitions, scoring 29 goals and providing 9 assists, with 3 bookings and one red card. He played 86 La Liga games, 10 Copa del Rey appearances, and 4 Super Cup appearances. In European competition, he featured in 21 Champions League matches plus 2 Europa League appearances. Yet these numbers remain modest for five seasons with the Blaugrana.
Monaco’s 2025-2026 Season So Far
Monaco’s start to the campaign was mixed: a 3-1 win over Le Havre, a 1-0 loss to Lille, a hard-fought 3-2 win over Strasbourg, and a 2-1 victory at Auxerre. They then crushed Metz 5-2, lost 3-1 to Lorient, and drew 2-2 with Nice. In the Champions League, Monaco opened with a heavy away defeat to Club Brugge and managed a 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Louis II stadium. The inconsistency led to the dismissal of Austrian coach Adi Hütter and the appointment of Belgian Sebastian Pocognoli through 2027.
French Ligue 1 Standings (2025-2026)
After seven rounds, Paris Saint-Germain sits atop Ligue 1 with 16 points. They are joined by Olympique de Marseille, Strasbourg, and Lyon on 15 points, while Monaco and Lens follow on 13. Lille is seventh with 11 points, ahead of Paris FC, Toulouse, and Rennes on 10. Brest and Nice sit on 8, Lorient on 7, Le Havre and Nantes on 6, with Angers on 5 in 17th and Metz anchored at the bottom with 2.
PUNCHLINE 1: If Fati keeps finding the back of the net, Monaco might need a bigger trophy case and an even bigger accountant. PUNCHLINE 2: The transfer market in Ligue 1 is basically a suspense novel—every chapter ends with a number and a new rumor about who’s paying the bill.
