A new prodigy arrives at Barça!

FC Barcelona have accelerated their drive to secure Europe’s most promising teenagers, and the latest name to join the project is 16-year-old English winger Ajay Tavares. The Catalan club confirmed to Sport on Thursday that paperwork has been completed for Tavares’ move from Norwich City, with only FIFA’s formal approval still pending. Because the player holds dual Portuguese nationality, Barça were able to structure the deal under EU transfer regulations, smoothing the path for what could become one of the winter window’s most talked-about youth captures.

Once ratified, Tavares will step straight into Barça’s Under-19 setup, reinforcing a squad already bolstered by several winter arrivals. Sources close to the negotiations say the winger’s explosive pace and direct style convinced the club’s scouts that he can replicate, at academy level, the attacking thrust that has become a hallmark of the first team. The recruitment staff also noted his comfort in one-on-one situations and a willingness to track back, traits that align with the club’s demand for technically gifted yet tactically disciplined wide players.

Barcelona’s pursuit of Tavares was anything but straightforward. Sport reports that multiple Premier League sides lodged offers and arranged presentations in an attempt to keep the teenager on English soil. In the end, the combination of Barça’s renowned development pathway and a clear outline for progression through the youth ranks persuaded Tavares and his family to choose Spain. The decision underlines the club’s growing willingness to look beyond La Masia for elite prospects, a strategic shift designed to keep the academy pipeline stocked with players already identified as future first-team material.

Administrative clearance is expected within days. If granted, Tavares will link up with his new teammates immediately, giving coach Oscar Lopez another dynamic option on the flank as the Juvenil A side pushes for domestic and UEFA Youth League honors. For Barcelona, the move represents another statement of intent: the next generation of talent may come from Norwich, Naples or Nicosia, but if the potential is elite, the club will move early and decisively.

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