In the style of Hamza Abdel Karim… Barcelona have signed a new deal

Barcelona have agreed to sign young Ecuadorian left winger Jose Caicedo (18) on loan from Liga de Quito club Barcelona Athletic, including a €2.5m buyout option.

Fabrizio Romano, an Italian journalist specializing in the transfer market, has confirmed that the two sides have reached a verbal agreement to extend the loan until the end of the 2026-2027 season, with the possibility of turning the deal into a permanent transfer if the player shines.

Caicedo, who is 1.83 meters tall, has limited experience in professional football as he has only played seven matches in the Ecuadorian Premier League, but made his Copa Libertadores debut last May 26 in a 3-2 win over Bolivia’s Alves Redi under Brazilian coach Tiago Nunes.

According to the newspaper “Mundo Deportivo:At Spanish club, the Ecuadorian will be under the tutelage of compatriot coach Giuliano Belletti at Barcelona Athletic, where he will have the opportunity to develop and mature before fighting for a place in the first team.

Caicedo’s signing comes as part of Barcelona’s new strategy, which includes the option to buy promising young talents on loan, a policy that recently succeeded with Egyptian striker Hamza Abdel Karim.

Hamza joined the youth team last January on loan from Egypt’s Al-Ahly before the Catalan club turned the deal into a permanent move for €1.5m plus bonuses following his remarkable brilliance.

Hamza Abdel Karim made his first appearance for Egypt’s senior team at the current World Cup against Belgium last Monday, a clear indication of the success of this strategy Barcelona are adopting to identify and develop talent at low cost.

The Catalan club are betting that Caicedo will follow suit, becoming a quality addition to the first team in the near future, especially with Barcelona needing to bolster their left wing with young and promising options.