Sevilla hijacks player transfer from Barcelona

Barcelona’s late bid to sign Alex Costa, a 22-year-old forward from Ponferradina, has been rejected, and the player is set to join Sevilla instead. 

Costa had already undergone a medical with Sevilla and reached a verbal agreement for a three-year deal before Barcelona’s surprise intervention.

Sevilla had moved quickly and decisively to secure Costa’s signature, and the club remains confident that the deal will go through despite Barcelona’s late interest. Costa’s entourage insists that he is committed to Sevilla’s project and is prepared to snub Barcelona.

The young striker has been impressive in the lower divisions, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 31 matches for Ponferradina during the 2024-25 campaign. 

Sevilla sees him as a future first-team prospect and plans to integrate him into their B team, Sevilla Atletico, with a clear pathway to the first team.

Costa’s decision to join Sevilla is seen as a testament to the club’s ability to develop young talent and provide a clear path to the first team. Sevilla’s officials are convinced of Costa’s potential and are determined to help him reach the top level.

Barcelona’s interest in Costa came amid minor delays in paperwork finalization, but Sevilla’s swift action has paid off. The final paperwork is expected to be signed shortly between Sevilla, Ponferradina, and Costa’s representatives.

With Costa set to join Sevilla, the club is looking forward to seeing him develop and make an impact on the team. 

Sevilla’s next match is a friendly against Birmingham City on July 12, and Costa may feature in the game or continue to work with the B team to gain more experience.

Meanwhile, Barcelona has taken a significant step towards returning to Spotify Camp Nou for the Joan Gamper Trophy against Como on August 10. 

The players will return to pre-season duty next week, and the club will tour South Korea and Japan to play their pre-season games. 

Barcelona’s first game of the 2025-26 season will be on August 16, away at Mallorca. The renovation of Spotify Camp Nou is ongoing, with the complete redevelopment expected to be finalized by 2026.