Barça has decided to make a strong move in the final stages of the transfer window and has already completed the signing of Etta Eyong. The Cameroonian forward, just 20 years old, is leaving Villarreal after becoming one of the sensations at the start of the season. The blaugrana club will pay €10 million, an amount that matches the release clause set in his contract.
The deal, which hasn't been officially announced yet, is only pending the final procedures. Deco sped up talks with Villarreal and the player's representatives in recent hours. Everything indicates that the official announcement will be made before the close of this summer transfer window.
A price within Barça's reach despite fair play
The main advantage of this signing has been the relatively affordable transfer fee. Eyong's release clause was set at €10 million, although some sources suggest there were additional variables. In the end, Barça decided to pay the full amount to prevent other interested clubs from appearing.
Villarreal, which was counting on the forward for this season, couldn't stop his departure. At the Yellow Submarine, they acknowledge that his potential is enormous, but the clause left them with no room to maneuver. Barça, facing serious limitations due to financial fair play, sees this deal as a strategic investment.
The contract Eyong will sign will run until 2029, securing his future as a blaugrana asset. His salary will be very modest in the first years, set at around €1.8 million gross per year. With bonuses for appearances and performance, it could reach up to €2.5 million, always within the club's parameters.
A profile designed as a future replacement
Eyong arrives to fill a medium-term need, as Barça is planning for the post-Lewandowski era. His power, ability to find space, and aerial game make him a modern forward with unique qualities. At the club, they believe he can be decisive in the coming years if he manages to adapt to the system.
Hansi Flick already had him on his list of targets since he arrived on the blaugrana bench. He believes that his profile fits the high-pressing, quick-transition soccer he wants to implement. He also understands that his youth is an advantage, because he can shape him with patience and room for growth.
At Camp Nou, they describe him as a footballer with hunger and an absolute willingness to work every day. In addition, his versatility allows him to play as a center forward, but also to start from the wing in more flexible systems. This opens up multiple options for Flick in a squad that needed attacking alternatives.
A loan on the immediate horizon
Even though Eyong is already a Barça player, it's not certain that he'll stay with the first team. The situation with financial fair play requires careful planning for his registration. For that reason, the board is seriously considering an immediate loan so he can get minutes in LaLiga.
Mallorca appears as the main candidate to take the Cameroonian on loan. The Vermilion club has already completed deals with Barça in this window, such as the signing of Jan Virgili. The relationship between both entities makes it easier to quickly negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement.
If the loan is confirmed, Eyong will make his LaLiga debut with guaranteed prominence. At Barça, they believe this is the ideal step before taking on responsibilities at Camp Nou. In Palma, they trust that his arrival will bring speed and goals to a squad that needs alternatives.
A signing for the present and the future
Eyong's arrival not only responds to sporting needs, but also to the club's financial strategy. By securing his clause now, Barça avoids his price skyrocketing in the future. At the technical department, they're convinced that his market value will grow in a very short time.
Deco emphasized the importance of bringing in young talents who can establish themselves in the first team. In that sense, Eyong represents exactly the type of deal that fits the new blaugrana policy. His arrival also excites a fanbase that was demanding signings with potential, not just immediate stopgaps.
Barça, set to make it official in the coming hours, already has the deal closed. Etta Eyong will be a blaugrana until 2029, with a cost of €10 million and an initial gross salary of €1.8 million. Although his immediate debut could come with another jersey on loan, in Barcelona they believe this is a signing for the present and, above all, for the future.