Barcelona have recently finalized the signing of United States youth international Pedro Soma from Catalan team Cornellá. The 18-year-old midfielder, born in Boca Raton, Florida, to a Brazilian mother and an American father, has made a significant move to the LaLiga giants after relocating to Barcelona in 2018.
Soma will begin his journey with Barcelona by joining the club's U19 side, which is under the guidance of former Brazil international Juliano Belletti. Additionally, he may also have the opportunity to feature for Barça Atlètic, the club's B team competing in the third tier of Spanish football.
Having started his football career in grassroots football in Barcelona, Soma was later discovered by third division side Cornellà in 2020. His impressive performances in Spain have not gone unnoticed, leading to international recognition with the U.S. national teams at U16, U17, and U18 levels.
At the U17 World Cup held in Indonesia last year, Soma played a pivotal role for the U.S. team, captaining them to the last 16 before being eliminated by eventual champions Germany in a closely contested match.
Barcelona's interest in Soma has been ongoing, and the club recently reached an agreement with Cornellà for his transfer to the prestigious LaLiga club. Soma will be joining a growing contingent of American talents at Barcelona, including goalkeeper Diego Kochen and midfielder Adrian Simon Gill, who are also part of the club's setup.
Kochen, 18, has already made his senior debut in a non-competitive match for Barcelona and is expected to be the first-choice goalkeeper for the B team this season. Gill, 18, is currently recovering from a long-term injury that sidelined him for a significant portion of the previous season.
The trio of American youngsters at Barcelona signifies the club's commitment to nurturing young talent from diverse backgrounds and providing them with opportunities to develop within the renowned Barcelona academy system.
