Barcelona are monitoring Chelsea defender Levi Colwill as they consider strengthening their defence during the upcoming winter transfer window.
Manager Hansi Flick has said he wants to sign a new centre-back, reiterating that desire at the news conference before Barcelona’s match against Alaves.
Mundo Deportivo previously reported that Barcelona had drawn up a list of potential defensive targets, including Josko Gvardiol, Alessandro Bastoni, Lisandro Martinez and Nathan. English media reports cited by the Spanish newspaper have now identified Colwill as another player attracting the Catalan club’s attention.
Barcelona are understood to be following the 23-year-old’s situation before deciding whether to pursue a deal. Colwill has established himself as an important part of Chelsea’s plans under manager Xabi Alonso and is considered one of the regular members of the London club’s team this season.
Chelsea are keen to extend Colwill’s contract, which currently runs until 2029. However, interest from clubs of the stature of Barcelona and Liverpool could lead the defender to delay making a decision on his future.
According to the same reports, Chelsea would only be prepared to consider offers of about 80m euros for Colwill. That valuation could make any potential move difficult, particularly given the club’s desire to retain a player who has become increasingly important to Alonso.
Colwill’s versatility is one of his main strengths. He can play as a left-sided centre-back and is comfortable building attacks from defence and distributing the ball. His physical presence also helps him compete in challenges, with the defender standing at about 190 centimetres tall.
He made his first-team breakthrough at Chelsea in the summer of 2023. Since then, Colwill has made 90 appearances for the club, becoming an important member of the squad.
His departure would therefore be difficult for Chelsea to sanction, especially with Alonso continuing to place significant value on his contribution. The manager has praised the defender’s qualities, saying: “Thanks to his calmness and strong presence, and because he is a complete and dominant player, he will be an important player for us.”
