Saudi Arabian giants reach deal with Barcelona for 19-year-old talent

Barcelona have reached an agreement with Al-Ittihad for teenage talent Unai Hernandez. The deal will see the captain of their Barca Atletic side and one of their most talented youngsters leave the club for Saudi Arabia.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the deal will be worth €4.5m to Barcelona, with a potential €0.5m further in add-ons available. The Blaugrana will also retain a sell-on clause for the 19-year-old talent, who can operate across the forward line. A medical is set to follow before the deal is confirmed.

Frenkie de Jong is much more open to renewing his contract than he was before, partly because he’s gaining prominence. @ffpolo

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) January 28, 2025

Barcelona and Hernandez had been at odds over a new contract agreement, and he had grown frustrated at the lack of opportunities in the first team. After Al-Ittihad Technical Secretary Ramon Planes, who had previously held the same position at Barcelona, stated publicly that they were looking at some of Spain’s young talents, the Saudi giants have pounced on the situation to cut what will no doubt be a lucrative deal for Hernandez.

🚨🟡⚫️ Al Ittihad have reached verbal agreement to sign 20 year old midfielder Unai Hernández from Barcelona.

€4.5m fixed fee, €500k add-ons and sell-on clause also included in package.

Formal details to be fixed before medical and signatures. pic.twitter.com/kx0FnTTW31

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 28, 2025

While the primary concern will be the loss of a promising young talent for Barcelona, it will also be a headache for Barca Atletic manager Albert Sanchez. Hernandez is not only his captain, but also his top scorer with 9 goals in 20 appearances, and just a point between them and the relegation zone.

The move is not thought to be enough to open the door to a move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on loan this January, but it could draw them within one more deal of securing enough salary space to do so. Simultaneously, another Barca Atletic starlet Pau Prim is closing in on a move to Qatar, and it is not yet clear whether or how much Barcelona would receive from that deal. Clearly Barcelona have some work to do to ensure more of their talents are not tempted away by lucrative deals in the Middle East though.