Barcelona Makes Unconventional Recruitment Outside Regular Transfer Period
With the transfer window closed, FC Barcelona has made an unexpected addition to their roster, as reported by various sources like SPORT, Sportskeeda, and Bleacher Report. The new signing is Hafiz Gariba, a 18-year-old center back hailing from Ghana.
Described as a promising talent, Gariba has inked a three-year deal with the Spanish giants after turning 18. His journey to Barcelona began at the Marcet School, located just north of the city, where he garnered attention from Barca and other prominent Spanish clubs.
The reports suggest that Gariba had received several notable offers in the recent past, but his dream was always to sign for Barcelona. He will not be immediately thrust into action, with the club's formative department in La Masia deemed him best suited for the Juvenil B U-18 side. If he lives up to expectations, a promotion to Juliano Belletti's Juvenil A team could be in the offing.
Hafiz Gariba is known for his imposing physique, which often helps him stifle potential threats before they materialize. This physical prowess is reminiscent of Barcelona's transfer strategy, which has seen the club investing in young African talents before they break into the big European leagues, thereby avoiding premium prices later on.
Barcelona's recent signing of Hafiz Gariba can be seen as a continuation of this strategy. Although the youngster may not immediately become a regular in Hansi Flick's squad, the club has a track record of generating profit from such investments. A notable example is Mika Faye, who was bought for a few million dollars only to be sold to Rennes for $10.8 million last summer.
At the turn of 2025, Barcelona also added two young Malian players to their ranks − Ibrahim Diarra and Arouna Traore. The duo joined Barcelona after impressing at Acadamie Africa Foot in their homeland, with the aim of establishing themselves in Catalonia's elite.
[1] SPORT: "FC Barcelona make surprise signing of promising youngster Hafiz Gariba"[2] Sportskeeda: "Barcelona sign teenage centre-back Hafiz Gariba on three-year deal"[3] Bleacher Report: "Barcelona sign 18-year-old Ghanaian center-back Hafiz Gariba"[4] Modern Ghana: "Barcelona seal three-year deal for Hafiz Gariba"
Enrichment Data used sparingly and integrated into revised article.
- Rennes might regret not signing Hafiz Gariba, given his impressive performance in the Juvenil B U-18 side of Barcelona, as they had reportedly shown interest in the young talent before his move to La Masia.
- Barcelona's decision to invest in Hafiz Gariba is not a random choice but a well-thought-out strategy, as evidenced by their past successful signings such as Mika Faye, who was sold for a significant profit.
- The addition of Hafiz Gariba to their roster means that Joan Laporta continues to prioritize developing young talent at Barca, following in the footsteps of Hansi Flick, who values physical prowess and defensive stability in his squad.
- Juliano Belletti, the coach of Barca's Juvenil A team, will closely monitor Gariba's progress and provide guidance to ensure that he can eventually make the transition to the first team.
- There is growing excitement among Barcelona fans and Spanish football pundits alike, as they anticipate seeing how Hafiz Gariba's talent evolves under Barcelona's world-class coaching staff and in the competitive La Liga environment.
- The sale of Hafiz Gariba from Barcelona to a bigger European club in the future could potentially provide a significant financial boost to the club, following in the footsteps of successful sales like that of Rennes-bound Mika Faye.
