Barcelona have signed 18-year-old Austrian international Yusuf Demir from Rapid Vienna on loan for the 2021/22 season, with the possibility of making the transfer permanent next summer.
Demir turned just 18 last month and was just 16 when he made his senior debut for Rapid at the end of 2019. Although he was born in Turkey, he has lived in Austria since childhood and made his senior international debut for the country in March.
?? New signing for @FCBarcelonaB! ✍ Yusuf Demir
? @skrapid | Red ringshotshttps: //t.co/FR1nKetO7x
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 9, 2021
A statement from Barça revealed that the club will pay 500,000 euros in loan fees to have Demir during the 2021/22 campaign. The “non-mandatory” option to buy is set at EUR 10 million.
He would initially be expected to join Barça B but could get a chance to play with the first team. Ansu Fati and Pedri are good examples of recent Barça teenagers who show that talent trumps age, with the latter 52 playing for the club last season.
If he comes on the field, Demir would be the second Austrian to play for Barcelona after national hero Hans Krankl, who scored 29 La Liga goals in 1978/79 and won the Pichichi trophy.
Before joining Barça, Demir was linked with a number of others to European clubs earlier this year. Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund were all rumored to have kept an eye on his development.
Demir made 32 appearances for Rapid in all competitions last season, including 90 minutes against Arsenal during the Europa League group stage. He scored nine goals and got three assists, when he played on the right, left, as a number 10 or a central striker.
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