La Liga 2019-20: 5 contenders for signing of the season

#3 Marc Cucurella (Barcelona to Getafe, loan)

Cucurella has been an important part of Getafe's success this season.

A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Cucurella came through the ranks as a left-back of some promise but made just one first-team appearance for the Blaugrana. The vast majority of his top-flight football experience comes from loan spells - he spent the 2018-19 season on loan at Eibar, where his promising displays prompted Barca to trigger their buy-back option.

Cucurella is still on the books of the Catalan giants but is spending the 2019-20 season on loan again, this time at high-flying Getafe, who have an option to make the move permanent for €6m in summer with Barca retaining a 40% clause to buy him back permanently.

The floppy-haired defender has been an integral part of the Madrid-based club’s incredibly successful season, playing virtually every minute of their La Liga campaign as they challenge for a spot in next season’s Champions League.

In 26 league appearances this season, Cucurella has contributed one goal and five assists while being deployed at left-back or further up the pitch in left midfield. He has also been instrumental in his side’s memorable Europa League journey, wherein they knocked out last season’s semi-finalists, Ajax in the round of 32 and were rewarded with a tie against European heavyweights Inter Milan in the round of 16.