Barcelona confirm signing of Croatian wonderkid in potential €2m deal

Barcelona have officially confirmed the signing of highly rated Croatian midfielder Chelfi from Kustosija, according to reports from Sport and Marca. The 18-year-old, who emerged from Dinamo Zagreb’s youth system, will initially join Barcelona's Juvenil A (U19) squad. The initial agreement is for 50 per cent of Chelfi’s rights at a fee of around €300,000, with the total transfer sum potentially rising to €2 million based on performance bonuses and duration at the club. The contract is valid until 2027, featuring a release clause reportedly set at over €20m (£17m/$23m).

The deal sees Barcelona secure a player who had attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool, after being tracked by the Catalans for over a year. Chelfi, a left-footed attacking midfielder, is expected to bolster the club’s youth teams and may progress to Barcelona Atletic under new manager Juliano Belletti. The acquisition comes at a time when Barcelona's senior recruitment is hampered by financial constraints and recent high-profile transfer misses, prompting more focus on nurturing emerging talent.

Chelfi played 44 matches and scored 13 goals across youth and senior competitions in the 2024-25 season. The buyout clause of over €20m ranks among the highest for a Juvenil A signing in Barcelona's recent academy history, signifying the club's expectations for his future impact.

Chelfi will begin pre-season with Barcelona’s Juvenil A, with the possibility of integrating into Barca Atletic if his adaptation is swift. Club sources reiterate that the player will not be loaned out this season, as his development will be closely monitored internally.