Barcelona include 18-year-old prodigy in UEFA Champions League squad | OneFootball

Barcelona have made a significant decision by calling up young midfielder Noah Darvich for their UEFA Champions League squad.

According to a recent report from SPORT, the club has updated its official list of players eligible for the prestigious European competition.

At the start of the season in September, Barcelona submitted two lists of players, known as List A and List B, to UEFA. Each list comes with specific conditions for player eligibility.

Typically, List B is reserved for grassroots footballers who must have been born in 2003 or later and meet certain development criteria within the club.

Initially, only Gerard Martíin and Unai Hernandez from the reserve team were included in the primary List A. However, with Hernandez departing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, a spot opened up.

Barcelona have now confirmed that Noah Darvich will fill this vacancy. UEFA officially published the revised list, confirming the German midfielder’s inclusion.

Returning from injury

Noah Darvich has been called up to Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League squad. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images for DFB)

At just 18 years old, Darvich is a promising talent but still faces challenges on his path to becoming a key player.

His development has been hindered by a recent injury, and he has yet to secure a regular starting spot in Barcelona’s reserve team since his arrival in the summer of 2023.

Despite these hurdles, Darvich’s technical skills and potential are evident, making his inclusion in the Champions League squad an important vote of confidence from the club.

Hansi Flick has not yet relied heavily on the German youngster, but this call-up presents a golden opportunity. If needed, Flick can now count on Darvich for the crucial round of 16 matches.

The club’s decision to include him signals their belief in his future potential, offering Darvich the chance to showcase his talent on the grand European stage.