In a significant transfer move, 16-year-old winger Ajay Tavares is set to join Spanish giants FC Barcelona from Norwich City, as confirmed by sources to ESPN. Tavares recently travelled to Catalonia, where he successfully completed a medical examination on Monday, paving the way for his transition to the renowned club. Read more about McLean Addresses Sargent's Departure as Canaries Move On.
Upon his arrival at Barcelona, Tavares is expected to initially join the club's under-19 team, known as Juvenil A. However, Barcelona's ambitions for the young talent extend beyond this level, with plans for him to eventually integrate into Barça Atletic, the reserve team competing in Spain's fourth tier.
Originally, the plan was to secure Tavares’ transfer in January, but bureaucratic obstacles led to delays. Fortunately, these issues have now been resolved, with FIFA granting approval for the deal, allowing Barcelona to proceed with their acquisition of the promising player.
Tavares has represented England at various youth levels, including U15, U16, and U17. His dual nationality, holding a Portuguese passport, has proven advantageous in this swift transfer process, as British players typically need to be 18 years old to sign with Spanish clubs. However, Tavares’ EU citizenship has enabled him to make the move at just 16.
For Norwich City, the situation has been somewhat challenging, as the club has faced restrictions concerning Tavares’ professional contract. They were unable to offer him a contract until he turns 17 in December. Despite having made only a single appearance for the first team during a pre-season friendly last summer, Tavares’ impressive development within the academy has attracted the attention of elite clubs across Europe.
Tavares’ move to Barcelona marks a pivotal moment in his career and highlights the ongoing interest in English talent at the famed La Masia academy. He will become the second England youth international to join the prestigious institution in the last decade, following Louie Barry, who had a brief stint at Barcelona in 2019 before returning to England with Aston Villa. Other notable players, such as Marcus McGuane and Marcus Rashford, have also been linked to Barcelona’s reserve team, underscoring the academy's appeal to young English footballers.
As Tavares embarks on this exciting new chapter with Barcelona, Norwich City will be keenly observing his progress, hoping to witness their former player flourish in one of the most prestigious football environments globally.