Barcelona's Rising Star Poised for Shocking €6 Million Exit—Exclusive Report
In a surprising turn of events, Barcelona academy product Dro Fernández is reportedly set to depart the club before month's end, with German Bundesliga and English Premier League teams showing interest in the promising young playmaker.
According to SPORT, the decision came unexpectedly as Dro, together with his representative, chose to pursue an exit from Catalonia during this January window. The player has already notified manager Hansi Flick of his intentions, and his modest €6 million ($6.9 million) buyout clause is anticipated to be activated shortly.
The 18-year-old prospect caught Flick's attention during summer preparations, earning a direct promotion from Barcelona's youth ranks to the senior squad for the 2025–26 campaign. However, following six months as a professional footballer, his future seems to lie away from the institution he has represented since 2022.
Dro has accumulated 148 minutes of action over five appearances for Barcelona this season. The youngster earned two starting positions, notably making his European debut where he recorded his maiden professional assist during the team's dominant victory over Olympiacos.
However, the promising midfielder hasn't featured since December 2nd, and following his puzzling omission from Barcelona's Copa del Rey match against Racing Santander on Thursday, his departure from the Catalan giants appears imminent.
Why Dro Fernandez Is Leaving Barcelona
Why Dro Fernandez Is Leaving Barcelona
Barcelona had intended to offer Dro an enhanced contract upon reaching his 18th birthday. While Dro marked this milestone on January 12th, just one day following Barcelona's Spanish Super Cup victory, sporting director Deco failed to finalize the contract extension in time.
Given his affordable release clause, multiple clubs are reportedly keen on securing Dro's services, with the player himself apparently driving the decision to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Despite his rapid rise through the ranks, Dro is believed to be seeking more regular first-team opportunities to further his professional growth. Operating primarily as an attacking midfielder, his pathway to consistent minutes at Barcelona remains obstructed by established players Fermín López and Dani Olmo.
Dro has also featured occasionally on the left flank, though Raphinha and Marcus Rashford remain Flick's preferred choices in that position.
This situation echoes Barcelona's previous loss of academy talent Marc Guiu to Chelsea during summer 2024, representing another instance of a highly-rated youth graduate departing the club.
While reports indicate Barcelona will attempt one final push to retain their young star, all signs point toward Dro—arguably La Masia's standout performer this season—leaving the Catalans before the transfer deadline.