Updated at 16.17
BARCELONA HAVE agreed a deal to sign young striker Vitor Roque from Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense, the Spanish champions said on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old forward will join Barca from the start of the 2024-25 season on a deal until the summer of 2031.
“The release clause is fixed at €500 million,” said Barcelona in a statement.
Spanish reports suggest the Catalans will pay €30 million for the Brazil striker with another €31 million in potential add-ons.
Barcelona have brought in Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez on free transfers this summer, with the Catalan giants still suffering from financial difficulties.
They are currently able to spend only 50% of any savings or new income because of La Liga financial restrictions on clubs exceeding their spending limit, as determined by the Spanish league.
Roque, one of the hottest prospects in Brazilian football, has scored six goals in his last six games.
The forward made his debut for the Brazilian national team in March and is able to play in wider areas as well as through the middle.
Roque finished as top goalscorer at the South American U20 championship earlier this year with six goals as Brazil triumphed.
Barcelona are still looking for a holding midfielder to replace captain Sergio Busquets, who left the club at the end of last season to join Inter Miami.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain have announced the arrival of Benfica teenager Cher Ndour on a five-year deal.
The 18-year-old Italian midfielder is the French champion’s sixth signing since Luis Enrique replaced Christophe Galtier as coach last week.
Ndour moves to the Parc des Princes after winning the Portuguese league title with Benfica, and is currently on duty for Italy at the Under-19 Euros in Malta.
He joins Enrique’s other new recruits — Lucas Hernandez, Manuel Ugarte, Milan Skriniar, Marco Asensio and Lee Kang-in at PSG.
The Qatari-backed club is in a period of flux following the departure of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi to US Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and with Kylian Mbappe’s future very much up in the air.
PSG must sell their prize asset in the current transfer window or risk losing him for nothing when the France 2018 World Cup winner’s deal ends next season.
