Barcelona to lose wonderkid to Leeds

Tom Weber

• Updated: 19 Apr 2023 14:42 BST
• 3 min read

Long rumoured, it is now all but confirmed that Barcelona will lose their talented youngster Ilias Akhomach in the summer when his contract expires.

The 19-year-old featured in Xavi's very first game as Barcelona coach in November 2021 against hated rivals Espanyol, but first-team minutes have been hard to come by since. Indeed, with the Blaugrana gunning for the UEFA Youth League title, Akhomach was registered as a youth player to enable him to play in the U19 competition.

With no clear pathway to the senior squad, rumours about the talent's future have abounded for months. Very early on it became clear that he would not renew his contract and that Barcelona would lose him this summer. The Spanish paper SPORT is now asserting that the winger's future has indeed been decided: he will definitely depart, though his destination is a somewhat surprising one.

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Milan, Seville or...Leeds?

According to the paper, AC Milan and Sevilla were both vying for Akhomach's services, as were Arsenal. In the end, however, the winger decided for Leeds United, who could very well be playing in the second tier next season, but perhaps it is precisely this which enticed him to head to Yorkshire: it will be easier for him to get minutes in the Championship.

Even if they do retain their Premier League status, Akhomach is said to be convinced by their long-term ambitions and he has been given a straightforward route to the first team. The Spanish connection also helps: "The club, with Javi Gracia as coach and Víctor Orta as sporting director, put a lot of confidence in young players and are putting together an interesting sporting project," writes SPORT.

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"The forward," concludes the Iberian outlet, "has always expressed his Barcelona sentiment, but the lack of opportunities and the lack of an attractive proposal to renew have led to a change of scenery. Leeds have made a strong move for the skillful winger."