Barcelona sign Adama Traore on loan from wolves

Barcelona has completed the signing of winger Adama Traore on loan from Wolves until the end of the season, the La Liga side announced on Saturday. The Spanish international is making his return to the Catalan club since leaving for England in 2015. The contract includes an option to make the transfer permanent in the summer, Barcelona said in a statement, adding that Traore would be presented as their new player in a ceremony on Wednesday. 

Also read: Dusan Vlahovic completes EUR 70 million move from Fiorentina to Juventus

Emocionado y agradecido por volver a llevar este escudo. Som-hi, Barça! ?? pic.twitter.com/IypVBc35iu

— Adama Traoré Diarra (@AdamaTrd37) January 29, 2022

Barcelona won the race to sign Traore, with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur also reported to be keen on the speedy winger who chose to return to the city of his birth. Traore, 26, came up through the academy at Camp Nou and made four appearances for Barcelona’s first team before joining Aston Villa in 2015. He spent two seasons at Middlesbrough, and has played 154 times for Wolves since joining them in 2018 for a club record fee of GBP 18 million.

Barcelona boss Xavi has been keen to strengthen his side’s attacking options and therefore has already brought in Ferran Torres from Manchester City for EUR 55 million earlier this month but a hamstring injury to Ansu Fati has accelerated the need for further reinforcements. 

Traore has scored only one goal in 10 league appearances this season, but his pace and ability to take on defenders is second to none. The 26-year-old is one of the quickest footballers in the world and with a bit of finishing touch to his game he has the potential to become a world class winger. 

He has made eight international appearances for Spain since making his debut in 2020. He was part of Luis Enrique’s squad for Euro 2020 last summer as La Roja reached the semifinal, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Italy on penalties.