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Italian Serie A club Como 1907 has reached an agreement to sign teenage defender Xavi Espart on loan from FC Barcelona, a deal reportedly worth €2 million with a buy-back option included. The transfer, finalized in early July 2026, marks the latest chapter in Barcelona’s longstanding strategy of developing La Masia graduates through loan spells at competitive European clubs.
The deal and what it signals about football finance
Espart, born on May 21, 2007, is currently valued at approximately €5 million according to Transfermarkt. The €2 million loan fee represents a substantial commitment from Como, a club that has been strategically investing in young talent since returning to Serie A.
The buy-back clause is the critical detail here. Barcelona retains the right to bring Espart back, meaning the Catalan giants view him as a long-term asset rather than surplus inventory.
Espart’s trajectory and Barcelona’s development pipeline
Espart’s path to this loan move has been anything but straightforward. A product of La Masia, Barcelona’s legendary youth academy, he joined the club in 2015 from UE Vilassar de Mar. He eventually rose to captain Barcelona Atlètic, the club’s B team, during the 2025/26 season.
His senior debut came on March 10, 2026, in a UEFA Champions League match against Newcastle United. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has been publicly enthusiastic about Espart’s potential, drawing comparisons to Philipp Lahm, the Bayern Munich and Germany legend known for his tactical intelligence and versatility.
The move to Como wasn’t the first option on the table. An earlier loan attempt to Racing Santander was blocked in January 2026. A separate proposal would have sent Espart alongside teammate Toni Fernández to Real Oviedo for the 2026/27 season, but that arrangement also fell through. Como ultimately emerged as the landing spot.
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