Barça sign U.S. youth international Pedro Soma

Barcelona have completed the signing of United States youth international Pedro Soma from Catalan team Cornellá.

Florida-born Soma will initially join the club’s U19 side — who are coached by ex-Brazil international Juliano Belletti — but could also get minutes with the B team, Barça Atlètic, who play in the third tier of Spanish football.

The 18-year-old midfielder joins a growing contingent of American youngsters at Barça, with goalkeeper Diego Kochen and midfielder Adrian Simon Gill also part of the setup.

Soma was born in Boca Raton, Florida, to a Brazilian mother and an American father but relocated to Barcelona in 2018.

After playing grassroots football in the city, he was picked up by third division side Cornellà in 2020, going on to represent the club’s first team.

His performances in Spain have earned him international recognition back in his homeland, where he has won caps with the U.S. at U16, U17 and U18 level.

At last year’s U17 World Cup played in Indonesia, he made three appearances as the U.S. progressed to the last 16, captaining the side as they were beaten by eventual winners Germany 3-2.

Barça have tracked his progress for a while and on Thursday announced a deal with Cornellà for him to make the switch to the LaLiga giants.

Soma already has a close relationship with Kochen and Gill, two more U.S. youth internationals making their way through Barça’s famed academy.

Goalkeeper Kochen, 18, was a regular on the bench for the first team last season and has already made his senior debut in a non-competitive match.

He is expected to be the B team’s No. 1 this season as the club prioritise game time over travelling with the first team.

Gill, 18, is currently on his way back from a long-term injury that kept him out for the majority of last season.