Recently, Barcelona have significantly strengthened their sporting department and scouting network, signing several players for the reserve team, including Juwensley Onstein, Patricio Pacífico, Josué Caicedo and Hamza Abdelkarim. The latest addition to that list is Jesse Bisiwu. The 18-year-old Belgian winger was under contract with Club Brugge until the summer of 2027, but had no intention of extending his deal. For months, João Amaral and Deco worked to convince him to join Barcelona.
His decision
not to renew with Club Brugge had a direct impact on his role throughout the 2025/26 season. Bisiwu was largely confined to a secondary role, something that became particularly evident during the final stages of the UEFA Youth League. The Belgian side reached the final, where they lost to Real Madrid on penalties. In the semi-final against Benfica, Bisiwu was introduced only for the final 23 minutes, by which point Club Brugge already held a three-goal advantage. In the final, he did not come on until stoppage time.
It is also worth noting that his refusal to sign a new contract effectively closed the door on a first-team opportunity at Club Brugge. As a result, he spent the season alternating between the club’s U19 side and the reserve team, who compete in the Belgian Second Division. Unsurprisingly, his performances suffered after that decision.
Bisiwu is not a winger who stands out for his outright pace, but rather for his explosive acceleration , which makes him exceptionally difficult to stop in one-on-one situations. He is highly technical, dynamic and comfortable using either foot. Physically, he is a lean player with long legs, a profile that complements his ball-carrying ability and allows him to glide past defenders with ease. His stride allows him to cover ground quickly despite not possessing elite top speed.
As is often the case with young wingers, he still needs to improve his decision-making in the final third. He consistently creates separation from defenders and generates dangerous situations, but he must become more efficient at converting those actions into goals and assists.
The biggest question surrounding Bisiwu’s move is the role he will play. He is naturally a left winger, a position that is already heavily stocked in Barcelona’s first team, with players such as Raphinha, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi competing for places.
That said, Segunda RFEF, where Barcelona Atlètic compete, should quickly prove below his level. Therefore, we will have to see in which of the two teams he plays for during this first season in Catalonia, whether under the orders of Hansi Flick or Belletti. What seems clear, however, is that Barcelona view him as a long-term investment and intend to integrate him into the first-team environment sooner rather than later. The €8.5 million fee reflects that ambition.
Bisiwu arrives at Barcelona regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in European football. Despite being only 18, he has already displayed flashes of the talent and technical ability that make him such an exciting prospect. The challenge now is to see how quickly he can adapt to his new surroundings and fulfil that potential. If he eventually develops into the player many believe he can become, the €8.5 million Barcelona have just paid for him could prove to be a bargain.
