Barcelona to officiate the signing of English wonderkind in a matter of hours – report | OneFootball

Barcelona’s transfer market dealings in January were focused solely on reinforcing their ranks in the youth department.

While much of the spotlight was on the signing of Hamza Abdelkarim, the club were also able to get their hands on Norwich City’s AJay Tavares.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the club are expected to officially announce the signing of 16-year-old Tavares in a matter of hours.

If all goes according to plan, the highly rated forward will complete his move and begin training with the youth squad on Monday.

A timely reinforcement

Tavares’ arrival comes at a critical moment for Barcelona’s developmental categories. Injuries have been a severe headache across the board this season.

Manager Juliano Belletti’s Barça Atletic has been heavily depleted, recently relying almost solely on winter signing Joaquin Delgado up front, alongside youth-registered Nuhu Fofana.

Ajay Tavares is regarded highly in the Barcelona camp. (Picture credit: Instagram/@ajay_tavares)

The injury bug has sidelined several key figures, including Dani Rodriguez, Ibrahim Diarra, and, most recently, Oscar Gistau.

Although Víctor Barbera has finally returned to field work, the ripple effect has deeply impacted Pol Planas’ Juvenil A side, forcing the manager to reinvent Adrian Guerrero as a makeshift number nine.

With Shane Kluivert now accumulating valuable minutes with the reserve team, Tavares’ addition will instantly expand the offensive possibilities and provide much-needed depth for Juvenil A.

Tavares isn’t the only fresh face slated to bolster the youth attack. The club’s other winter attacking addition, 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim, has left excellent impressions in training but is currently delayed by administrative hurdles.

The Egyptian striker has temporarily returned to his home country to expedite the bureaucratic process for his work permit.

Because of his lack of recent competitive rhythm, the club plans to register him with Juvenil A first once his paperwork clears.