Barca agree deal to sign Japan star player

BARCELONA have agreed a deal to sign emerging Japanese talent Hiroki Abe from Kashima Antlers, the J-League club said yesterday.

The 20-year-old attacker, named the league’s best young player of 2018, was set to undergo a medical with the Spanish side and would join up with their ‘B’ side.

Financial details were not released but earlier reports said Barca would pay around 2 million euros for Abe, who made his senior international debut at the Copa America and appeared in all three of their matches.

“It was a difficult decision to leave (Kashima) mid-season, but I chose to make the move because I absolutely want to take on this new challenge at Barcelona,” Kyodo news agency quoted Abe as saying in a statement.

Reports in the Catalan press suggest that Abe will spend the season with Barcelona’s B team in the Spanish third tier.

This follows the signing of 16-year-old English striker Louie Barry from West Bromwich Albion.

In another development, the Mirror believe that Wilfried Zaha is still wanted by Arsenal, and they will improve upon their £40million offer to secure his signature. – Reuters