Official: 18-year-old midfield prospect signs for Barcelona | OneFootball

It is official. FC Barcelona have secured the signing of 18-year-old midfield talent Lovro Chelfi from NK Kustosija, the Croatian club have announced.

“Our Lovro Chelfi (18), a talented offensive midfielder who played for the seniors of Kustosija in SuperSport Druga NL last season, signed for – no less than – FC Barcelona!

“Lovro will initially join Barça’s U-21 team, but it is clear that Catalans see an important wheel to their future in him,” the statement from Kustosija on their social media account read.

“We are proud that our club has once again been an important stepping stone for a player of world potential. Good luck, Lovro – we believe this is only the beginning!”

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Chelfi, 18, had been with the Kustosija youth setup for a few years, having made the move from Dinamo Zagreb in 2022.

The young attacking midfielder featured nine times for the Croatian outfit’s Under-19 setup and even played twice for the senior team.

While the statement does not reveal the entire details of the operation, reports suggest that Barcelona have acquired 50% of Chelfi’s rights for a fee of €300,000.

They have an agreement to purchase the remaining 50% of the player’s rights, valid for the next two years, depending on how he progresses. In that case, the total amount of the operation will rise to around €2 million.

Chelfi will join the Catalans’ reserve team, Barça Atletic, upon arrival.