Sports
Official: Barcelona secure future of highly-rated La Masia defensive gem
June 9, 2026
Source: Yahoo Sports · Read on source site
Official: Barcelona secure future of highly-rated La Masia defensive gem
class="wp-block-paragraph">Barcelona’s commitment to protecting the future of La Masia remains stronger than ever, and the latest contract renewal is another sign of the club’s confidence in its next generation of talent.
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class="wp-block-paragraph">The Catalan giants have officially secured the future of Luca Perez, one of the most promising young defenders emerging from the academy.
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class="wp-block-paragraph">The 16-year-old centre-back has signed his first professional contract with Barcelona, ensuring that his development will continue under the club’s supervision after years of steady progress through the youth ranks.
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class="wp-block-paragraph">The announcement was confirmed by Barcelona through the club’s official channels, with youth football coordinator and methodology director Sergi Mila present for the signing.
Barcelona reward years of development
class="wp-block-paragraph">Luca’s story is one that perfectly reflects Barcelona’s long-term academy philosophy.
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class="wp-block-paragraph">The defender joined the club from Damm in 2018 and has spent the last eight years developing within La Masia.
class="wp-block-paragraph">Throughout that period, coaches have closely monitored his progression, with the youngster consistently earning praise for his maturity and defensive reliability.
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class="wp-block-paragraph">This season marked another important step in his journey after making his debut for Juvenil B despite still being at an age where many players are only beginning to establish themselves in youth football.
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class="wp-block-paragraph">As such, Luca is the latest academy talent to receive a professional contract, following several other promising youngsters whose futures have recently been secured by the club.
Who is Luca Perez?
class="wp-block-paragraph">Standing out for his physical presence and defensive instincts, the centre-back has built a reputation as a reliable defender who thrives in one-on-one situations.
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class="wp-block-paragraph">While he is comfortable in possession and capable of helping build attacks from deep, his biggest strengths remain his defensive fundamentals.
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class="wp-block-paragraph">Luca may still be years away from challenging for first-team opportunities, but Barcelona clearly believe he possesses the qualities required to continue climbing through the academy structure.