Brighton scored a huge victory on Friday when they agreed to a season-long loan with Barcelona’s teenage talent Ansu Fati.
When Fati made his Barcelona debut four years ago, he was thought to be one of Europe’s most promising young players.
The 20-year-old forward, though, had recently slipped down the Spanish giants’ hierarchy and, shockingly, decided to transfer to the Amex Stadium in an effort to jumpstart his career.
“This is a great deal for all of us. I am sure Ansu will help us to reach a new target and we can help him get back to the level he deserves to be,” Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi said.
Brighton of the Premier League, who qualified for the Europa League, will play European football for the first time this season thanks to Fati’s acquisition.
Fati, who joined Barcelona from Sevilla when he was 10 years old in 2012, became the club’s second-youngest player ever when he was substituted in against Real Betis in 2019.
He scored against Osasuna six days later to become Barca’s youngest goal scorer.
He was named the youngest member of Barça’s Champions League team in September of that year, and his goal against Inter Milan in December of that same year cemented his status as the competition’s youngest goalscorer.
He played in 36 La Liga games for Barcelona last season as they won their first championship in four years.
Fati, a Guinea-Bissau native, participated in the Qatar 2022 World Cup and assisted Spain in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year.
Fati is under contract with Barca until 2027 and has a reported one billion euros release clause in that deal.
Barca said there was no option for a permanent transfer to Brighton as part of the loan arrangement.
