FC Barcelona prodigy, Ansu Fati has joined Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion on season-long loan from Barcelona.
Brighton stated on their website on Friday, noting that, “We are pleased to confirm the signing of Ansu Fati on a season-long loan from Barcelona,”
“The 20-year-old made 36 La Liga appearances last season for Barca, as they secured their first title for four years.“
While speaking after the announcement of Fati’s loan move, Brighton’s manager Roberto De Zerbi said, “This is a great deal for all of us. I am sure Ansu will help us to reach a new target and we can help him get back at the level he deserves to be.”
Fati holds a number of records for Barcelona, having joined their famous academy, La Masia, aged ten.
He became the club’s second-youngest appearance maker in August 2019 when he came on as a substitute in a 5-2 win over Real Betis, before becoming Barca’s youngest goal scorer in a 2-2 draw against Osasuna six days later.
In September 2019 he became Barcelona’s youngest Champions League player and his goal against Inter Milan in December 2019 made him the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history.
He finished the 2019/20 season having made 33 appearances and scoring eight goals. He was named in the first UEFA La Liga Revelation Team of the Year and the following season he won La Liga’s Player of the Month award for September.
Barca won the Copa del Rey that season and Ansu firmly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in world football when he won the Goal.com NxGn award for 2021, which recognises emerging young players.
Last season he enjoyed more success with club and country, winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup as well as the UEFA Nations League with Spain.
He also made two appearances at the FIFA World Cup and has represented his country at senior level nine times, scoring two goals.
Also, while announcing the deal, the Liga Champion noted that FC Barcelona and Brighton & Hove Albion have reached an agreement for a loan without an option to buy for Ansu Fati.
This was the condition set by the Catalan club, in order to be able to control the player’s future.
“FC Barcelona and Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club have reached an agreement for the loan of the player Ansu Fati until 30 June 2024. There is no option to buy.
“Ansu Fati will continue to develop his football in the Premier League, after growing up at Barça. Because, at just 10 years of age, the striker was already wearing the Blaugrana shirt. In 2012, he arrived at La Masia from the youth ranks of Sevilla and joined the Alevín A, where he progressed and burned stages until he reached the first team”, FC Barcelona said in a statement.
