19-year-old La Masia goalkeeper in contention for Barcelona debut vs RCD Mallorca | OneFootball

The unwavering faith of FC Barcelona in their young talents continues to shape the club’s future. Over the years, several promising prospects have already been given the platform to shine, and now another gem is on the verge of stepping into the spotlight. This time, it is Diego Kochen.

According to Diario AS, the 19-year-old La Masia goalkeeper is poised to make his official first-team debut against RCD Mallorca on August 16, Barcelona’s opening fixture of the 2025–26 La Liga season. Trusting Kochen to debut in such a match is a massive deal.

This has reportedly only been made possible due to the fact that the player was included in the preseason tour to Asia. Moreover, having debuted under Flick during that tour against Daegu FC, it seems that the German coach has had a closer look at the player.

In terms of his profile, Kochen embodies what Barcelona look for in a goalkeeper. He is comfortable playing with the ball at his feet, boasts solid technical skills, possesses sharp tactical awareness, and demonstrates agility between the posts. However, there are certain things to keep in mind.

For one, while not mentioned in the report, his chances may depend on the registration status of Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny. Both are proven goalkeepers, and if they are eligible to play, Flick would likely favour them for such a high-profile match.

Additionally, the future of Inaki Pena could play a decisive role. Should the Spaniard depart before the opening game and the registration situation remain unresolved, Kochen’s pathway to making his competitive debut would become far more likely.