Real Sociedad fight Dortmund to sign Barcelona's Hector Fort

Hector Fort's next move should become clear before the summer transfer window shuts. The 20-year-old right-back has spent weeks training away from Barcelona's first-team group after falling out of Hansi Flick's plans, pushing both the club and the player to find him a new home where he can get regular minutes. Real Sociedad have emerged as serious suitors, though they face an uphill battle against Borussia Dortmund, who currently lead the race for his signature.

• Hector Fort has been training apart from Barcelona's squad after being left out of Hansi Flick's plans.
• Borussia Dortmund are currently the frontrunners to complete his transfer.
• Real Sociedad are exploring alternative structures to get into the bidding before the window closes.
• Barcelona value the full-back at between 15 and 20 million euros, a figure that could drop with buy-back clauses.
• The player is open to a move to the Bundesliga but is also weighing offers from within Spain.

Why Hector Fort needs to leave Barcelona

Fort's predicament highlights just how crowded Barcelona's right-back spot has become under Flick, who has several trusted options in that role. The La Masia graduate has gradually slipped down the pecking order to the point of being excluded from sessions with his teammates, a clear sign that his time in the first-team squad, at least for now, has run its course. For a player his age, securing regular football has become urgent before the market shuts, since another season on the fringes could stall his development.

Borussia Dortmund lead the race for the full-back

The German club has been working on this deal for some time and, according to information gathered by this outlet, had come close to sealing an agreement to bring Fort in. The Bundesliga has become a popular destination for young Spanish talents chasing playing time and European exposure, and Dortmund can offer Fort a competitive project with regular continental football and a style that suits an attack-minded full-back.

Real Sociedad look for a way into the deal

Despite Dortmund's head start, Real Sociedad's interest is genuine and growing. The Basque club, who need reinforcements at right-back before the window closes, have stepped up contacts to try to convince both Barcelona and the player himself. San Sebastian's club knows it is competing from a position of disadvantage against a European heavyweight like Dortmund, but remains keen on a move it views as sporting-wise very attractive, especially given Fort's youth and upside.

How much Barcelona want for Hector Fort

Barcelona have put a price tag on their academy product, valuing him between 15 and 20 million euros — a significant sum for a player who has barely featured for the first team, but one that reflects the club's confidence in his medium-term potential. That figure could still shrink considerably if Barcelona choose to include a future buy-back option or retain a percentage of any later sale, mechanisms commonly used in transfers involving promising academy graduates.

What comes next for the player

With the transfer window nearing its end, Hector Fort will need to decide within days which path suits his career best. A move to Germany would offer an immediate step up in one of Europe's most competitive leagues, while staying in Spain with Real Sociedad would keep him in LaLiga and potentially ease a future return to Barcelona. The final call will hinge on the sporting guarantees each club can offer, as well as the financial terms Barcelona set for the deal.