Official: Barcelona confirm a third transfer deal of the summer

The 27-time LaLiga champions have announced a third transfer deal for the summer.

FC Barcelona have signed 18-year-old Brazilian striker Vitor Roque.

Roque is the third transfer deal Barcelona have announced this summer. The Catalan club previously signed Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez. The veteran pair arrived on free transfers from Manchester City and Athletic Club respectively.

But unlike Gundogan and Martinez, Roque won’t join the squad this summer. In Barcelona’s official statement, the club said it expects the teenager to arrive for the 2024/25 season. He will sign a contract until June 2031, which includes a €500 million release clause.

According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Barca will pay Roque’s current team, Athletico Paranaense, a transfer fee of €30 million.

The Blaugrana have also agreed on performance-related bonuses with Athletico PR. They are worth an additional €31 million in total. €26 million could be spent based on Roque’s performances in Catalonia. An extra €5 million will be paid if the striker makes the Ballon d’Or top 3.

With his future settled, Roque will now turn his focus back to Athletico PR. The 18-year-old is the second-highest scorer in the Brazilian top-tier league. He has scored seven goals in 13 games and made two assists.

He could return to action for the second leg of the club’s Copa do Brasil quarter-final against Flamengo on Wednesday. Athletico PR will enter the game hoping to overturn a 2-1 aggregate deficit in front of their home crowd in Curitiba.