Barcelona have lost another rising star — and this time, it’s to one of Europe’s most well-known talent factories.
Sixteen-year-old playmaker Eloi Gomez Saus has joined Ajax after deciding not to renew his contract with the Catalan club.
Gomez, a standout performer in Barca’s U16 team last season, has signed a three-year deal with the Dutch giants, which runs through June 2028. He will join Ajax’s U17 squad ahead of the 2025–26 season.
The move wasn’t about money alone. According to reports, Gomez saw fewer chances to grow at Barcelona due to the heavy competition in midfield.
Ajax, on the other hand, offered a clearer path to first-team football — something no young midfielder can ignore.
Despite his early rise through La Masia — having joined the club at the age of just eight — Gomez saw his future away from the Camp Nou. With Ajax’s history of turning young potential into first-team regulars, the switch makes footballing sense.
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Ajax sporting director comments on Eloi Gomez Saus
‘Frenkie en Rodri zijn spelers naar wie ik veel kijk’ ⚽️
– Eloi Gómez Saus –
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) August 6, 2025
Ajax’s sporting director Marijn Beuker was full of praise for the new signing after official announcement.
“Eloi is a typical playmaker for Ajax. He is frequently involved in the build-up play, shows initiative on the ball, and enjoys playing forward,” Beuker said.
He added: “He combines footballing intelligence with technical ability, which allows him to link up play with one or two touches. He had been with FC Barcelona since the age of eight and stood out very positively to us at tournaments and in head-to-head matches. We expect that he will settle in quickly here, and with him, we have added another future gem to our academy.”
Barcelona may have lost a gem, but Ajax seem to have found the missing piece for their next generation midfield.
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