Over the past few transfer windows, FC Barcelona have focused on strengthening their youth team ranks with signings for the future.
The likes of Noah Darvich, Mikayil Faye, and Mamadou Mbacke Fall arrived as recently as last summer to reinforce the youth and reserve squads and are already knocking on first-team doors.
More such signings are being targeted, which is understandable, considering the financial situation as the idea is to sign and develop top talents within the club.
Ibrahim Diarra set to arrive in 2024
Keeping in line with that policy, Barcelona are on track to sign 16-year-old wonderkid Ibrahim Diarra, reports Albert Roge of Jijantes FC.
A winger, who can also play as an interior midfielder, Diarra is currently associated with the Africa Foot academy in his homeland of Mali.
The teenage prospect has already trained with Barcelona’s Juvenil A squad on a few occasions and has seemingly made a good enough impression for the club to sign him up.
It appears that the transfer is well on track to being completed, although Diarra will only be joining officially towards the end of 2024, once he turns 18 years of age, owing to FIFA regulations.
Diarra at the U-17 FIFA World Cup
Currently, Diarra is away at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia, where he is leading the Malian national team.
In two appearances in the competition, the 16-year-old versatile talent has registered an assist.
Diarra’s Mali outfit came up against Spain Under-17 earlier today, during which he faced several of potential future teammates like Marc Guiu, Hector Fort, and Juan Hernandez, among others
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Previously, he played five times for the Mali Under-17 side at the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations this year, racking up three assists.
