Here we go: Barcelona agree €2.5 million loan-to-buy deal for South American talent | OneFootball

In a key development, journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that FC Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign teenage winger Josue Caicedo from Ecuadorian club LDU Quito.

The transfer expert has given his trademark ‘Here we go’ seal of approval for the deal, which will see the 18-year-old starlet sign on an initial loan deal with an option to buy that could turn into obligation for a fee of around €2.5 million.

Another exciting talent secured

Barcelona have made it a habit to monitor young prospects with promise and potential across the globe.

The plan is to sign such talents at an early age when they can be brought in for a small fee, and develop them within the club – either to see them break into the first-team squad or cash on through future sales.

A number of players such as Mika Faye, Noah Darvich, and Mamadou Mbacke Fall, among many others, have been signed by the Catalans in similar deals.

More recently, Hamza Abdelkarim was roped in by the La Liga champions in January on a loan deal with an option to buy, which they have since activated.

Patricio Pacifico also arrived on a similar deal from Uruguay in the winter, and the club plan to keep hold of him despite an ACL injury sidelining him.

Now, it is Josue Caicedo, who will become the next in line to join the list of promising prospects that Barcelona sign with an eye on the future.

Reinforcement for Barça Atletic

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Just 18 years old, Caicedo has already made his first-team debut for LDU Quito, for whom he has made eight appearances.

A winger by trade, the teenager has been deployed in deeper positions on the left flank, as a left-midfielder or even a left-back.

As per the update from Romano, the plan is for Caicedo to become a part of the Barcelona reserve team, Barça Atletic, where he will play under Juliano Belletti.

However, it will be interesting to see whether the 18-year-old spends time with the Juvenil A (U19) side upon arrival like Hamza Abdelkarim did over the past four-five months.