Barcelona’s academy has long been renowned for producing some of the finest young talents in world football.
La Masia’s reputation continues to draw admiration from across the continent for the players it consistently develops.
Hansi Flick’s pre-season squad this summer included several names supporters are only just beginning to learn.
One of those names quickly became one of the standout stories of the entire pre-season campaign.
His rise had been so rapid that first-team involvement no longer felt like a distant prospect.
Ebrima Tunkara is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury.
The 16-year-old sustained the knock during Barça Atletic’s friendly against CF Vilanova this past Sunday.
Barcelona have since confirmed the teenager will be out for approximately six weeks as a result.
A club statement described the issue as a traumatic ligament injury to his left ankle sustained in that match.
The setback is a cruel blow for a player who had spent almost all of pre-season training alongside the senior squad.
Tunkara was even presented to supporters at the Spotify Camp Nou before the Joan Gamper Trophy fixture.
He went on to make his first appearance at the iconic stadium later that same night.
Born in Gambia before moving to Mataro as a child, Tunkara joined Barcelona’s academy system back in 2018.
He became one of the youngest players ever to debut for Barça Atletic, doing so at just 15 years old.
His performances for Spain’s youth sides have also drawn attention, having previously impressed at the U17 European Championship.
Fermin Lopez recently named Tunkara among the standout performers of pre-season training alongside fellow academy prospect Orian Goren.
The plan had been for the midfielder to split his time between first-team involvement and regular football under Juliano Belletti at Atletic.
That dual role was seen as central to his development heading into the new campaign.
Instead, the injury means Tunkara will miss the start of Barça Atletic’s season entirely.
He is now expected to return to action at some point in October.
Barcelona will be hopeful the layoff proves only a temporary setback in what has been a rapid rise for one of their most exciting academy graduates.
📌 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞̀𝐝𝐢𝐜
El jugador del Barça Atlètic, Ebrima Tunkara, té una lesió lligamentosa traumàtica al turmell esquerre, que es va produir durant el partit davant el CF Vilanova d’aquest diumenge. El temps aproximat de baixa és de sis setmanes.
💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/hyURAfZ0kW
— Barça Atlètic (@FCBarcelonaB) August 24, 2026
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