Official: Barcelona sell Oscar Mingueza to Celta

Robin Bairner

• 30 Jul 2022 21:31 BST
• 2 min read

Breaking

Barcelona have announced that Oscar Mingueza will leave the club to sign for Celta Vigo.

Mingueza departs the Camp Nou side to sign for Celta on a four-year deal, with the value of the transfer reported to be around the €5 million mark.

The move is subject to the formalities of a medical and the signing of a contract with their La Liga rivals.

Announcing the news on Saturday, Barcelona published a statement on their official website that reads: “FC Barcelona and Real Club Celta de Vigo have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of Oscar Mingueza, pending a medical check and the signature of the corresponding contracts.

“Until today, Oscar Mingueza’s life has been entirely blaugrana. The defender rose up through all the ranks at the club, from the very youngest age group right through to senior level.

“It was during his third season with the reserves that Ronald Koeman promoted him to the first team in November 2020. He made his debut in the Champions League, providing the assist for Martin Braithwaite’s headed goal away to Dynamo Kyiv.

“As a right or centre-back, he totalled 66 appearances for the team in all competitions. In La Liga he scored two goals, one against Real Madrid, and gave five assists. His biggest honour at the club was winning the Copa del Rey title in 2020/21.”

A new phase of the transfer window for Barcelona

Mingueza’s departure signals the beginning of a new phase in the transfer window for Barcelona. Having made big-money signings Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde, they are now in the process of selling off fringe players to free up wages and secure funds to allow their new stars to be registered.

The 23-year-old, who has been pushed out of the first-team picture by Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen and Kounde, is likely to be just the first of numerous players to leave Barcelona this summer, with the club aiming to recoup the maximum for each one.