Liverpool star Bradley Barcola will be looking to make an impact in his time with Liverpool, with the winger hoping to quickly become a fan favorite.
Bradley Barcola poses during the official UEFA Champions League 2026/27 portrait session
Bradley Barcola has made his move to Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Karl Bridgeman - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))
After weeks of waiting and months of anticipation, Liverpool finally got a deal for Bradley Barcola over the line, following intense negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain.
The French winger shot to the top of the Reds' transfer list over the summer transfer window when it became clear that he could be available, though several hurdles had to be jumped before a move could come through.
The player first had to be open to leaving, with two years remaining on his contract and uncertainty surrounding his position in the team, there was a chance of that happening.
Then PSG had to be open to a sale, with the rejection of a new deal offering that chance. Once that had all been cleared, there were discussions to be had over a potential transfer fee, with Barcola open to joining the Merseyside club over any other potential suitor.
There was a sizeable gap between the valuation set by PSG and Liverpool, but that eventually shrunk until an agreement could be reached to the tune of $166 million.
Now that he has arrived, many fans will be hoping that he can be the one to unlock a frontline that already includes some expensive transfer acquisitions, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz yet to truly take off at Anfield.
Barcola could offer plenty of quality, as well as a recognizable figure in the frontline to turn to. With the number 29 on his back, inspired by the EA FC game series, it'll be easy to spot him when he's marauding down either the left or right flank.
However, look closer, and you may see that Barcola also has a few tattoos, joining the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas in the squad to have some art inked on their bodies.
Bradley Barcola new signing of Liverpool at AXA Training Centre
Bradley Barcola was one of several signings for Liverpool in the summer transfer window(Image: (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
The 23-year-old's tattoos have a running theme, however: Japan. The forward has shown his love for the country and the culture by having plenty of art dedicated to it on his body.
On his back, he has a huge central tattoo that features a samurai wearing a Hannya mask, along with cherry blossoms around it and a traditional pagoda in the bottom right side of the piece.
Moving on to his arms, and Barcola has dedicated it to movies, shows and manga. There are tattoos dedicated to Studio Ghibli films, with Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke featuring prominently.
On his arms there are tattoos of Ken Kaneki from the Tokyo Ghoul series, as well as Ryomen Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen towards his shoulder.
“The answer is simple: it comes from the mangas and animes I used to watch when I was younger," he told Club Legacyz in an interview.
“Those stories, those characters, they always inspired me. It even made me want to get tattoos of references on my arms. For me, it’s a way to carry those inspirations with me, wherever I go.”
He is not the first Liverpool star to have done so, with Ibrahima Konate previously paying tribute to shows such as Attack on Titan with his goal celebrations.
Whether that inspiration off the pitch can lead to success on it remains to be seen, but Liverpool fans will certainly hope that is the case.