Barcelona have completed the signing of highly rated Belgian winger Jesse Bisiwu from Club Brugge in a deal worth around €8.5 million, with the 18-year-old committing his future to the Spanish champions until June 2031.
The Catalan club confirmed the transfer on Saturday after Bisiwu travelled to Barcelona to finalise the move before linking up with Hansi Flick’s squad at their pre-season training camp in England.
Barcelona described the teenager as a player with “power, long stride, and exceptional dribbling ability”, adding another exciting young talent to Flick’s growing squad.
Born in Belgium on 22 January 2008 to Ghanaian parents, Bisiwu has represented Belgium at youth level and enhanced his reputation earlier this year after being named in the Team of the Tournament at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
The left winger began his development at OH Leuven before joining Club Brugge, where he progressed rapidly through the academy ranks. Since turning 15, he has been a regular for Club NXT, Brugge’s reserve side, making 36 appearances in Belgium’s second division while also scoring three goals in 14 UEFA Youth League matches across the past two seasons.
Bisiwu wasted little time settling into his new surroundings, taking part in his first training session with Barcelona on Saturday at St. George’s Park following the team’s pre-season friendly against Birmingham City, which ended 2-2 before the Catalans lost 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out.
The Belgian completed the opening part of the session alongside his new team-mates before continuing with individual work, while players who featured heavily against Birmingham were limited to recovery exercises. Barcelona are scheduled to hold two training sessions on Sunday as they continue their preparations in England.
Speaking after his first day with the club, Bisiwu expressed his excitement about the move.
“The feeling is great. They have welcomed me brilliantly. It feels like a big family, and both the players and coaches have given me a fantastic reception,” he said.
The teenager also made it clear he is ready to earn his place under Flick.
“I will do whatever Flick asks of me. Whenever he needs me, I will work hard and be ready. It is very simple for me. It is just about hard work and being where the coach needs me.”
Bisiwu also spoke of his admiration for Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, calling the Spain international “very special”, while revealing that former Barcelona forward Neymar was the player who inspired him to take up football.
“I love his style of play and how he expresses himself with the ball. That is the reason I started playing,” he said.
Barcelona will hope Bisiwu can continue his rapid development as the teenager begins the next chapter of his career under Flick, joining one of Europe’s most competitive squads with a long-term contract already in place.
