Barcelona are continuing to push forward with their long-term recruitment strategy, and another young name has now emerged as a priority.
According to SPORT, the Catalan club is moving closer to finalising a deal for highly rated Dutch defender Ruud Nijstad.
The pursuit of Nijstad, who currently plays for FC Twente, fits perfectly into Barcelona’s recent approach in the market.
Rather than focusing solely on immediate first-team reinforcements, the club has prioritised strengthening their youth structure with players who can grow into senior roles over time.
Several deals on the cards
As such, recent progress on deals involving Hamza Abdelkarim and Patricio Pacífico reflects that same philosophy.
Barcelona’s sporting department is carefully targeting key positions, not only to reinforce Barça Atletic but also to ensure that the pathway to the first team remains clear.
The idea is to build depth without blocking the development of players already within the system, including those coming through the youth sides, several of whom could soon be called upon by Hansi Flick.
In that regard, Nijstad is viewed as another piece in that wider puzzle.
There is a plan in place
Despite being just 18 years old, the left-footed defender is already featuring for Twente’s first team, a detail that has caught Barcelona’s attention.
The Dutchman is under contract until 2027, meaning Barcelona must reach an agreement with both Twente and the player to complete the move.
The current plan, as reported, is for Nijstad to arrive in the summer and initially join Barça Atletic.
From there, he would be expected to earn any future promotion through performance rather than reputation.
Rather than signing youngsters and fast-tracking them prematurely, the club want each player to progress naturally within the system. The emphasis remains on development, competition, and internal balance.
As a result, each incoming signing is assessed not only on ability, but also on how they fit into the existing structure without creating unnecessary congestion.