Ebrima Tunkara, Barcelona's 16-year-old gem already coveted across Europe

Ebrima Tunkara is only 16 years old and under contract with FC Barcelona until 2029, but his name is already circulating in Europe’s top recruitment offices. A left-footed attacking midfielder trained at La Masia since January, he made his debut with Barcelona’s B team this season but has yet to break into the first team.

It was at the U17 Euros, held in Estonia, that Tunkara burst onto the scene. His three assists helped Spain qualify for the semi-finals, where the Spanish face Italy this Thursday. Performances strong enough to spark interest from several continental heavyweights.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus travelled to Estonia to watch the player in person. These scouts also took the opportunity to follow other talents at the tournament, including Christian Imga (Athletic Bilbao), Kemo and Mencia (Atlético Madrid).

Despite this outside interest, Tunkara’s immediate future appears set in Catalonia. Tied to the club until 2029, he has already participated in several training sessions alongside Lamine Yamal and other internationals. Coach Hansi Flick plans to integrate him into pre-season this summer, once the senior players return from the 2026 World Cup.

La Masia continues to feed Spanish and European football with precocious talent. Eight players from Barcelona’s academy feature in the Spanish squad for the 2026 World Cup, among them Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and Gavi. Tunkara could well be the next to take the next steps.