Barcelona have added another young talent to their team as the Spanish giant land Lovro Chelfi from NK Kustosija after stiff competition from England clubs.
According to reports from Sport and Marca, the highly rated 18-year-old Croatian midfielder who emerged from Dinamo Zagreb’s youth system, will initially join Barcelona’s Juvenil A (U19) squad.
The initial agreement is for 50 per cent of Chelfi’s rights at a fee of around €300,000, with the total transfer sum potentially rising to €2 million based on performance bonuses and duration at the club.
Lovro Chelfi has been tipped to be the next big thing
The contract is valid until 2027, featuring a release clause reportedly set at over €20m (£17m/$23m).
Chelfi had attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool, after being tracked by the Catalans for over a year.
The left-footed attacking midfielder, is expected to bolster the club’s youth teams and may progress to Barcelona Atletic under new manager Juliano Belletti. The acquisition comes at a time when Barcelona’s senior recruitment is hampered by financial constraints and recent high-profile transfer misses, prompting more focus on nurturing emerging talent.
Chelfi played 44 matches and scored 13 goals across youth and senior competitions in the 2024-25 season. The buyout clause of over €20m ranks among the highest for a Juvenil A signing in Barcelona’s recent academy history.
