FC Barcelona is currently in advanced talks to sign 17-year-old Brazilian midfielder Zé Lucas from Sport Recife, according to several sources. Zé Lucas, who was born in 2008, is a remarkable player, leading Brazil’s U-17 team to win a South American Championship and has played 17 times for Sport Recife, including 432 minutes in the 2025 Brazilian Serie A.
The discussions between Barcelona and Sport Recife have made a lot of progress, and a deal is expected to happen soon. This could be similar to Real Madrid’s approach of signing young South American talents like Vinícius Jr. and Endrick. However, FIFA regulations state that Zé Lucas cannot move to Europe until he turns 18 in March 2026, which means he will probably stay in Brazil until then. His contract with Sport Recife lasts until 2028, and there is a €50 million (R$330 million) release clause for foreign teams. Barcelona’s interest fits with their strategy of focusing on young players, as shown by their signings like Ibrahim Diarra and Roony Bardghji. Although Sport Recife’s management has claimed there are no active negotiations, many reports from outlets like Marca and Football España indicate that a transfer is likely to happen soon.
There is some doubt, as a Brazilian Reddit user pointed out that Zé Lucas isn’t as popular as other prospects and has limited experience in the first division, suggesting that Barcelona’s decision might be a bit early. Nevertheless, the club views him as a long-term investment, possibly starting with their B team, while keeping an eye on future profits or moving him to the first team later.
