Barcelona Restructures Player Development Ahead of 2026/27 Season

Barcelona announced a new structural approach to player development as it prepares for the 2026/27 season. The club held an internal training match on August 3, 2026, replacing a canceled friendly against Preston North End. Young player Oriyan Goren received praise from head coach Enzo Pellicciari and is expected to play next season with Barcelona's reserve team, Barcelona Atlètic.

Significantly, Barcelona revealed that the sporting management of the reserve team will shift from the youth department to the senior team’s management, with sporting director Deko overseeing both squads. This change aims to streamline the connection between Barcelona Atlètic and the first team, allowing closer monitoring and integration of players into the senior squad’s vision.

The club’s goal is to make Barcelona Atlètic the final step before promotion to the first team, expanding the daily roster under Pellicciari’s supervision. This structure intends to enable players to transition smoothly throughout the season without needing adjustment periods, particularly regarding physical fitness. Barcelona recognized that loaning players to affiliated clubs, as Manchester City does, was ineffective, prompting this shift to strengthen player development within a professional framework.

Barcelona plans to create long-term development pathways for standout players like Goren, ensuring a more cohesive and efficient progression system within the club.