An Everton defender has officially put pen to paper with FC Barcelona, marking an important addition to the defensive department.
Having built a stellar reputation as one of the standout defensive talents in England, the Catalan-born center-back has completed a high-profile return to Spotify Camp Nou.
FC Barcelona moved decisively to secure her services by triggering a contractual buy-back release clause, ensuring that the former Merseyside star returns to bolster the reigning European champions’ backline ahead of the upcoming campaign.
The elite player making her triumphant return home is 21-year-old Spanish central defender Martina Fernández, who will reinforce FC Barcelona Femení in Liga F under head coach Pere Romeu, as per the official Everton statement.
The club officially activated her buy-back option to bring her back to Catalonia, with the highly rated defender putting pen to paper on a new three-year contract running through June 2029.
Fernández initially joined Everton midway through the 2024/25 campaign on loan before making her move permanent, quickly blossoming into an indispensable pillar for the Toffees and ultimately earning Everton’s Young Player of the Season honors.
During her impressive tenure in the Women’s Super League, Fernández made 41 total appearances across all competitions for Everton, showcasing exceptional composure, elite aerial presence, and line-breaking passing ability from deep.
Her standout performances on Merseyside included crucial match-winning contributions, such as scoring twice in a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, which firmly established her status among Europe’s brightest young defensive stars.
For Barça Femení, bringing Fernández back represents a strategic masterstroke to fortify their squad depth with a homegrown talent fully versed in the club’s tactical methodology.
Her regular starting experience in England provided invaluable physical and tactical maturity, preparing her to challenge for immediate starting minutes.
Meanwhile, Everton bid farewell to a key contributor whose rapid rise on Merseyside paved the way for a memorable return to her hometown club.
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