Al-Maimouni signs with Barcelona.

Barcelona FC has continued its policy of attracting top emerging talents, as it officially announced today the signing of Moroccan midfielder Mehdi Maimouni, who is 17 years old, coming from Belgian club Charleroi, to join the "La Masia" academy in preparation for continuing his football career within the "Catalan" club.

The deal came after strong competition from several European clubs that showed interest in the player's services, most notably Newcastle United and PSV Eindhoven. However, the sports project presented by Barcelona, along with Maimouni's desire to develop within "La Masia," were decisive factors in his choice to move to "Blaugrana."

Maimouni is considered one of the most prominent emerging Moroccan talents in Europe, having caught attention with his outstanding performance at Charleroi, particularly due to his tactical abilities and discipline in midfield, which earned him widespread praise within Belgian football circles.

The levels displayed by the player were crowned with him receiving the "Golden Lion" award for the best young talent in the Belgian league for the year 2024, indicating the great potential he possesses, which Barcelona is betting on developing within its academy, in preparation for his future transition to the first team.