Even revealing brilliant names, such as Lamine Yamal and Pedri, the Catalan club faces the dilemma of not being able to take advantage of all the talents emerging from the academy.
This summer has been a challenging period for many of Barcelona's youth players. The combination of a steady stream of talent coming through La Masia, the quality of those already established at the club (also academy graduates), and the high standard of new signings has significantly increased internal competition.
In this context, many young talents have felt compelled to look for opportunities elsewhere. The recent departures in the last transfer window, whether on loan or permanent deals, clearly reflect this dynamic.
The most emblematic case may be Jan Virgili, the left-footed forward who stood out against Flamengo in the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup final, which the Brazilian side won. Signed by Barça last summer for the academy and promoted to the B team in January, Virgili was never called upon by Hansi Flick, despite being regarded internally as one of the most promising youngsters.
This intense competition in attacking positions ultimately limited the left winger’s chances to progress, resulting in his transfer to Mallorca. Barcelona, still monitoring Virgili’s development, retained a percentage of any future sale and secured a right of first refusal.
Other youngsters leaving Barcelona
Barcelona defender Alex Valle on August 17, 2024
In the 2024/25 season, many young players opted to leave Barcelona in search of more playing time. Alex Valle, a promising 21-year-old left-back, signed for Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas, on a contract running until 2029.
The defender, who had loan spells at Andorra, Levante, and Celtic, cost the Italian club €6 million. Noah Darvich is another example of a permanent move: the 18-year-old German midfielder joined Stuttgart on a deal running until 2029.
Meanwhile, Ander Astralaga and Aaron Yaakobishvili left on loan while remaining tied to Barcelona. The 21-year-old Basque goalkeeper joined Granada, while the 19-year-old Hungarian keeper moved to Andorra.
Sergi Dominguez, for his part, made his first-team debut for Barcelona last season, playing six matches—three in LaLiga, one in the Copa del Rey, and two in the Champions League. A few weeks ago, however, he agreed to join Dinamo Zagreb on a contract until 2029, saying farewell as another promising La Masia product departs.
A golden mine “overflowing” with talent
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action on August 31, 2025
Barcelona’s capacity to produce quality players across all positions is so remarkable that the first team—already full of talents like Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Marc Casado, Lamine Yamal, among others—cannot accommodate all that La Masia generates. A clear example of this situation is the uncertainty surrounding Fermín López.
Chelsea’s interest has raised questions among his entourage, who are aware of the challenges he faces in establishing himself as a starter under Flick. Even so, the midfielder chose to stay at the club, keeping alive the dream of making his mark at Barça.
The same ambition drives other promising academy players who continue to work intensively, such as Jofre Torrents, Dro (nickname for Pedro Fernández), Guille Fernández, Toni Fernández, and others.
This article was originally published on Trivela.
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