Transfer Centre

Barcelona announce Mikayil Faye signing on four-year deal

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 19 June 2023

Barcelona announce the signing of 18-year-old Senegal centre-back Mikayil Faye from Croatian second-tier side NK Kustosija on a four-year deal.

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of 18-year-old centre-back Mikayil Faye from Croatian second-tier side NK Kustosija.

The Senegalese starlet has agreed a four-year contract with the Catalan giants until the summer of 2027 and will join up with the Blaugrana's academy squad.

Barcelona have also inserted a mammoth €400m (£341.1m) release clause into Faye's contract, which the defender will sign imminently.

The La Liga champions are believed to have fended off interest from Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund to sign the highly-rated 18-year-old, who has already completed his medical with the club.

"FC Barcelona and NK Kustosija Zagreb have reached an agreement for the transfer of player Mikayil Faye for the next four seasons, until June 30, 2027, with a release clause of 400 million euros," Barcelona said in a statement.

"The player has already passed the relevant medical tests at the Hospital de Barcelona and the Medical Services of the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, has seen the club's facilities and stepped on the turf of the Johan Cruyff Stadium dressed in the kit blaugrana. In this way, only the official act of signing the contract that will link him with the club will be pending."

Barcelona are believed to have paid an upfront fee of €5m (£4.3m) for Faye, who spent just half a season with Kustosija after leaving Diambars FC in his homeland.

During his brief stay in Croatia, Faye scored one goal and provided one assist in 14 league games for Kustosija, playing 12 of them from the first whistle.

🔵🔴💪 https://t.co/WkNuAxMeCQ
— Mikayil Faye (@MikayilFaye) June 19, 2023

Faye helped his side stave off relegation to the third tier in the playoffs, and the 6ft 1in defender previously made 10 appearances for Senegal at Under-17 level.

The centre-back's international matches include three games in the group stage of the 2019 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, while he also played every minute of Senegal's run to the Under-17 World Cup last 16 that same year.

Faye primarily operates in the heart of defence, but he also gained experience playing as a left-back in the earlier stages of his career and will continue his development in La Masia before a potential breakthrough into the first team.

The Senegalese starlet could be one of two highly-rated youngsters to arrive at Camp Nou this summer, as the Blaugrana are believed to be closing in on a deal to sign Brazilian striker Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense.

Once Roque's arrival is made official, Barcelona are likely to prioritise a new midfielder to replace the long-serving Sergio Busquets, who will officially depart on a free transfer at the end of the month.

The Spanish champions are still working on a deal to sign Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan, who is also out of contract this summer, while Tottenham Hotspur's Giovani Lo Celso has apparently emerged as another engine room target.

However, Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi has ruled out a possible switch to Camp Nou, while Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich is also thought to be an unattainable target.