Barcelona 18-year-old prospect starting to establish himself in the first-team dynamics | OneFootball

La Masia prospect Xavi Espart has become a regular in FC Barcelona’s first-team training sessions in recent weeks.

The 18-year-old versatile youngster, who can play at right-back and in midfield, was a key part of the Juvenil A setup that won the treble last season.

Espart has carried forward that form to the Barça Atletic setup this season, becoming a key player under Juliano Belletti’s tutelage.

Making headway into the Barcelona first team

Now, according to SPORT, Espart is gradually starting to establish himself in the first-team dynamics at Barcelona.

As mentioned earlier, the teenager is now a regular participant in first-team training sessions under Hansi Flick.

What’s more, he has been included in three straight squad lists for the games against Girona, Olympiacos, and Real Madrid, although he has yet to make his debut.

Xavi Espart (L) making an impression in first-team training. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Espart’s performances in training are making a big impression on the coaching staff, while his ability to play at right-back and in midfield is seen as a valuable asset.

So far in 2025/26, Espart has made six appearances for Barça Atletic, scoring one goal in the process. Meanwhile, he also has two goals in two UEFA Youth League matches with the Juvenil A setup.

Given that Jules Kounde has had a dip in form and Eric Garcia is needed at centre-back, there may even be a possibility that Espart makes his first-team debut for Barcelona in the near future.

What appears certain is that the young defender has managed to win over Flick and the rest of the coaching staff with his potential and quality.