Who’s this sensational Arsenal academy graduate to have joined Barcelona? All you need to know

Scout Report – Marcus McGuane

Barcelona have completed a deal for Marcus McGuane, who is an 18-year-old academy graduate from Arsenal. The fee is undisclosed for now but it is understood to be a three-year deal. For now, McGuane will play for the Barcelona B side but the Catalans have the right to extend his contract if they wish to. At present, his buyout clause stands at €25m, which is quite a decent amount for a player as young as him.

It definitely seems like a good deal for the young star and there is no limit to what he can achieve with Barcelona. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at McGuane’s profile.

History

Born in 1999 in Greenwich, England, McGuane forayed into the world of football when he first joined Arsenal’s Hale End Academy at the under-6 level. He quickly rose through the ranks and rapidly established himself as one of their most promising young stars. Eventually, he made his way through the different levels and was appointed as the captain of the Arsenal U18 side.

Eventually, McGuane’s performances were so impressive that he started playing regularly for the U23 side. In fact, he made a solitary appearance for the first-team as well. Last September, he was on the bench for Arsenal’s Europa League match against BATE Borisov and the player came on as a substitute for Reiss Nelson.

However, with his deal done to join Barcelona, it will be interesting to see how the player progresses and develops for the Spanish giants.

Playing Style

McGuane’s biggest strength lies in his versatility. The teenager can play out wide and in defence but he is a midfielder by trade. More than anything else, he thrives as a defensive midfielder and can work extremely well at pulling the strings in the heart of pitch.

He is quite strong physically, which often helps him keep opponent attacks at bay. The player is athletic as well and that can be seen in the way he surges forward to create opportunities for his teammates. McGuane does not shy away from scoring goals either.

McGuane’s Future

The 18-year-old is sure to have a bright future ahead of him. The fact that Barcelona noticed his displays and liked them enough to want to sign him is a huge deal and it can only become better if he replicates the same form he showed at Arsenal.

He is undoubtedly one of the most promising youth products to have graduated from the Gunners’ academy in recent times and he will face a major test ahead as he plays for the Barcelona B side. That said, Ernesto Valverde is on the lookout for a player to succeed Andres Iniesta and if McGuane plays his cards right, he could be one of the contenders.