Espanyol attacker officially joins Barcelona

Barcelona has completed the signing of a promising young attacker from rivals Espanyol, adding fuel to the fierce Catalan football rivalry.

The move has generated plenty of buzz among supporters, not only for the player’s potential but also for the direct nature of the switch between two clubs with such a storied and fierce relationship.

His unwillingness to renew his contract with the Pericos ultimately paved the way for Barcelona to swoop in and secure his signature.

The player in question is Pol Mancheño, a 16-year-old centre-forward who is widely tipped to be one of Spain’s brightest attacking prospects, as reported by the official FC Barcelona X page.

After a summer filled with speculation, Mancheño decided to leap following a period of reduced opportunities at Espanyol during the 2024/25 season.

Mancheño has now officially joined the Blaugrana setup and will feature within their youth development structure, where he’s expected to sharpen his skills and adapt to the club’s style of play.

Barcelona confirmed the deal through an official announcement, marking yet another transfer from Espanyol this summer after moves for prospects Joan García and Roger Martínez.

For Barcelona, this signing is another step in fortifying their options for the future, ensuring a steady stream of attacking talent.

For Espanyol, however, it represents a frustrating loss—one more example of their top youngsters being tempted away by bigger opportunities and the lure of playing for their biggest rivals.

Such departures inevitably spark discussions over the club’s youth retention policies and competitive positioning in the city’s football hierarchy.

The move is bound to add spice to future Barcelona–Espanyol encounters, with Mancheño’s development now of significant interest to both fan bases.

If his track record at the youth level is a sign of things to come, Barcelona may have landed a forward capable of one day making an impact on the senior stage.

🤝 El FC Barcelona ha arribat a un acord amb el jugador Pol Mancheño per a la seva incorporació al Club en l’etapa juvenil

🆕 El davanter ja s’entrena amb el Juvenil B blaugrana

🙌🏼 Benvingut!#FCBMasia 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/qt2Mad9GoC

— FC Barcelona – Masia (@FCBmasia) August 14, 2025