Barcelona signs rising Dutch defender from Ghent to fuel their youth-forward strategy
31 January 2026
Barça bets on youth with a Dutch defensive prospect
Barcelona officially announced on Saturday the signing of an 18-year-old Dutch defender from Ghent, underscoring the club's push to cultivate young talent.
The deal runs for two and a half years and includes an option to extend for an additional season, according to the club.
The defender is set to join Barcelona B as part of the Blaugrana's strategy to strengthen the defensive base with fresh prospects.
The club is also targeting more young players this winter, with Hamza Abdel Karim from Al Ahly among the notable names linked.
Barça currently leads La Liga with 52 points ahead of their trip to Elche in the 22nd round of the season, scheduled for January 31, 2026, at 21:00 local time.
Punchline: If this kid grows into a starter, Barcelona's defense will finally stop aging—they’ll just age gracefully like a fine wine.
Punchline 2: Barça’s scouting is so youth-forward that even their trophy cabinet is asking for a growth spurt.
