Ansu Fati joins Brighton on loan

Ansu Fati looks on during the match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio de la Ceramica on August 27, 2023 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Ansu Fati looks on during the match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio de la Ceramica on August 27, 2023 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Ansu Fati debuted with Barcelona before his 17th birthday. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Ansu Fati debuted with Barcelona before his 17th birthday. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Ansu Fati will be hoping a change of scenery is what he needs to get his career back on track.

The Barcelona starlet has left the Catalan side to join Brighton on a season-long loan.

Rumors of a move away ramped up a couple of days ago with the Premier League being his likely destination. Fati had been linked with a move to Tottenham before Brighton emerged as an option.

The Premier League side confirmed his arrival via social media.

“We are delighted to bring Ansu to the club. He is one of the most highly-rated young players in the world and arrives with an impressive amount of experience both domestically and in European competition, despite his age,” said Brighton’s technical director David Weir.

“This season is the biggest in the club’s history and we’re really happy that a player of Ansu’s quality is going to be a part of it. We will give him the opportunity to embed himself in the squad and get used to working with Roberto , but naturally we’re excited to see him in a Brighton shirt.”

For a while, Ansu Fati had been reluctant to leave Barcelona.

With the emergence of Lamine Yamal and the early, good displays from Ferran Torres, it quickly became evident Fati wasn’t going to have as much playing time as he had hoped.

Brighton is one of the more exciting teams in England outside of the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, etc.

The same can be said about Brighton manager Robert De Zerbi. Under his tutelage, the hope is he can get Fati back to the player he was before injuries took their toll.

It’s something Barcelona is hoping for as well as they did not include an option to buy Fati.

At only 20 years of age, Fati is nowhere near his prime. Going to a Brighton team where he will be made to feel important should be a confidence-builder. Something both Brighton and Barcelona believe will translate into positive results on the pitch.