A talented English winger has agreed terms with Barcelona and is now heading for a high-profile move to Camp Nou.
Barcelona continue their aggressive youth recruitment drive, securing another international gem to bolster La Masia’s ranks amid financial prudence and long-term succession planning.
The 16-year-old English attacking prodigy, already turning heads in senior youth setups, embodies Deco’s strategy of snapping up elite teenage talents before they hit mainstream radars, following recent additions like Hamza Abdelkarim and Juwensley Onstein.
That winger is Ajay Tavares from Norwich City, with Fabrizio Romano confirming a “here we go” agreement on personal terms and club compensation, pending final FIFA approval for the minor’s international transfer.
The England U17 international, holding a Portuguese passport to bypass post-Brexit restrictions, has dazzled in Norwich’s U18 side with searing pace, direct dribbling, and clinical finishing – traits echoing early Lamine Yamal.
Born in 2009, Tavares will slot into Juvenil A under Pol Planas, fast-tracking to Barça Atlètic as Barcelona eyes promotion from Spain’s fourth tier to retain prospects.
Tavares’ path mirrors rare English exports to La Masia, like Louie Barry’s 2019 switch from West Brom. Scouts have tracked his Championship youth exploits for months, praising his left-footed flair and 1v1 dominance.
For a club constrained by 1:1 spending rules despite La Liga title pushes, these low-cost coups – nominal fees plus future sell-ons – preserve FFP space for seniors like Julian Alvarez (€200m dream) or Rayo’s Nobel Mendy, while countering sales pressures on Ansu Fati (Nottingham Forest) and Marc Casado (Saudi €40m).
Norwich, mid-Championship, reluctantly part with their prize asset, banking on sell-on clauses from a deal valued under €5m.
Tavares rejected Premier League academies for Catalonia’s fabled development pipeline, prioritising technical mastery over early first-team shots.
As Laporta’s board navigates re-election, youth investments signal faith in the club’s DNA over galáctico gambles. For Tavares, Camp Nou awaits – a teenage dream realised in Blaugrana.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
