FC Barcelona have signed 18-year-old Ecuadorian winger Josué Caicedo from LDU Quito, according to a new report. While not official, the transfer is being spoken about as a done deal for a loan with a 2.5 million euro option to buy. That option changes to mandatory once he plays his fourth match with Barcelona’s senior team.
A verbal agreement has been previously reported, but now, according to the latest, pen has been put to paper. It’s no longer a promise of a deal, but a done-and-dusted, closed
operation. It’s expected that Caicedo will play for Barça Atlètic, at least at first.
Caicedo will sign for four years, and LDU Quito will retain a 20% sell-on clause. He is a left-back that can also operate as a wingback or winger. Known for his pace, stamina, and ability to get forward, Caicedo caught the eye of Barcelona’s scouts in the U20 Copa Libertadores.
The hope is that he will start with the B team under Juliano Belletti, but will start making appearances for the first team soon after he adapts to playing in Europe. The top brass is hopeful that despite the relatively low cost of the operation, Caicedo will blossom into a first-team player.
