Barcelona's 9 best wonderkids to watch out for in 2025

FC Barcelona is home to arguably the best youth academy in world football, La Masia (the farmhouse).

Incepted in 1979, La Masia has become a force in world football, with its graduates going on to become some of the most revered footballers in the modern game.

La Masia has once again garnered global attention with players like Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Fermín Lopéz, and Pau Cubarsí all breaking through in recent seasons.

Many who follow Barcelona are astonished at how the Catalan club is in such financial turmoil when they have a rich pool of the world's best talent coming through their production line.

For every Lamine Yamal, there is a Dani Olmo, a player who had to leave La Masia in order to find a route to first-team football to continue his development.

What is more bizarre, is that Barcelona are continuing to spend big money to sign players for positions that could be filled by one of the many La Masia wonderkids.

But La Masia in 2024 is home to some very, VERY exciting players.

Players who already look the part, who could comfortably fit into Hansi Flick's squad for the 24/25 LALIGA season.

We've spoken to sources close to La Masia, as well as Barcelona fans and scouts to identify who the most exciting prospects are that people are talking about.

These are the most exciting La Masia wonderkids to watch out for in 2024/25:

9. Ebrima Tunkara

Ebrima Tunkara is only 14 years old, yet he's already making strides in his development at La Masia which is catching the attention of Barcelona's coaching staff.

Tunkara is a multidisciplined midfielder, who can operate anywhere in the middle of the park.

At just 14, he is already maturing into a player with physicality beyond his years.

Despite his strength and height, Tunkara is smooth on the ball with a great touch and a natural ability to receive the ball under pressure, dropping his shoulder, and feinting past the opponent.

Reminiscent of Yaya Touré, Tunkara is a midfielder who thrives on driving forward, with a keen eye for a pass.

He currently plays a number eight, but you could easily see Tunkara adapting to become a penetrative defensive midfielder in a progressive possession-based system, or even adapting to become a technical right-back who inverts into midfield.

8. Marc Casadó

Casadó is the current captain of Barcelona Atlètic, Barcelona's B team.

If you were to watch Marc Casadó without known his name or number, you would think you were watching Frenkie De Jong.

Casadó can play as a number six or a number eight in midfield, and possesses extremely similar skills to the Dutch midfielder.

With rumours circling about the future of de Jong, Casadó could get an opportunity to get minutes under Hansi Flick.

Casadó is a very different player to Marc Bernal (#2 on our list). He likes to drive forward with the ball and play progressive passes to move the team forward, whereas Bernal prefers to help the team maintain control in possession.

7. Héctor Fort

Héctor Fort, while not yet promoted to the first team, has impressed with his defensive capabilities and attacking support from the right flank.

Known for his speed and stamina, Fort's performances indicate that he could soon be knocking on the first team's door.

His ability to track back quickly and his keen sense of positioning have made him a standout in La Masia’s youth ranks. Fort’s overlapping runs and accurate crosses add an extra dimension to the team's offensive play, making him a versatile asset.

6. Pau Prim

There is so much talent coming through La Masia right now, and the majority of the players emerging are unsurprisingly central midfielders.

Pau Prim is a defensive midfielder who is exceptional in possession.

Prim doesn't necessarily possess the flair of an Iniesta, but is a mature midfielder who looks to bring Barcelona's more creative midfielders into play.

It will be interesting to see which young La Masia midfielder will be preferred under Hansi Flick, with each providing the German manager different options for the upcoming LALIGA season.

5. Dani Rodríguez

Dani Rodríguez could benefit from the transfer speculation surrounding Ferran Torres and Raphinha.

Lamine Yamal aside, La Masia is not known for producing out-and-out wingers.

Instead preferring to develop wingers who can operate as versatile progressive midfielders who happen to play out wide and high.

However, Rodríguez breaks that mould.

Rodríguez is a direct, pacey winger, who thrives in one-on-one situations on the left wing.

Rodríguez has all the confidence in the world with the ball at his feet. Unlike former La Masia-produced wingers, he is output-focussed.

His goals and assists for Barcelona B have been impressive, and could be an exciting option for Hansi Flick in the 2024/25 LALIGA season.

4. Toni Fernández

Toni Fernández is the cousin of La Masia's Guille Fernández (#1 on the list), and is one of the best young talents at Barcelona's youth academy.

He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder, a progressive number eight if you will, but can also operate as a RW.

Fernández impressed during pre-season when he made his first team debut against Manchester City during Barcelona's tour of the USA.

Fernández, who is left-footed, adds an extra dimension to Barcelona's squad f0r the upcoming season.

3. Unai Hernández

Unai Hernández has been touted as a potential understudy to Gavi. The right-footed midfielder is tenacious, and wants to make things happen when he's on the ball.

Hernández started his youth career as a left-winger, and it shows in his style of play.

Preferring to sit in between the opposition's defensive and midfield, Hernández is the type of player who can change a game.

2. Marc Bernal

If you were create a clone of Sergio Busquets in the labs of La Masia, you would probably end up with Marc Bernal.

Bernal is a player who has been groomed to replace Busquets for a while now, and despite the club's failed attempts to bring in a successor, they may now have found their man.

The more you watch Marc Bernal, the harder it is to not draw those comparisons to the legendary metronomic midfielder.

The youngster's ability to preserve control, and defensive positioning, is way ahead of players of his age.

An intelligent player, Bernal could get his breakthrough this LALIGA season under new German manager, Hansi Flick.

1. Guille Fernández

Guille Fernández, is the first cousin of Toni Fernández, has been making headlines for some time now, heralded as one of the most promising midfielders in La Masia.

Fernández really is the jewel in the crown of Barcelona's youth academy. His technical ability, game intelligence, and versatility make him a potential candidate to become the next Pedri.

Whilst there is a lot of competition at La Masia, Guille Fernández is expected to progress to the first team in the coming seasons.

Discover the next football wonderkids before anybody else by becoming a free or a paid member.