Barcelona starlet heads for Saudi Arabia with buy-back clause included
Barcelona teenager Lovro Chelfi is nearing a move to Saudi club Al-Diriyah, with the Catalan side retaining a buy-back option for the young forward.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Diliff
Barcelona forward Lovro Chelfi is on the verge of completing a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Diriyah. Reports from journalist Juli Claramunt indicate that negotiations are reaching their final stages, with the young Croatian looking for more consistent senior opportunities.
To protect their long-term investment, Barcelona have successfully negotiated a buy-back clause into the agreement. This mechanism acts as a safety net, allowing the Catalan club to bring the attacker back to Camp Nou should he show significant development while playing in the Middle East.
Chelfi, a product of the Dinamo Zagreb academy, joined Barcelona from NK Kustosija in the summer of 2025. During his time in Spain, he primarily featured for the Juvenil A side, making 21 appearances and scoring once, while also earning a single cap for Juliano Belletti's Barca Atletic. He also showcased his talent this summer, representing Croatia Under-19s at the European Championship, where he scored against Serbia.
The move to Al-Diriyah offers a fresh challenge under manager Bruno Lage. The Saudi club has been busy in the transfer market, recently adding notable names such as Idrissa Gueye, Chancel Mbemba, and Darwin Nunez to their ambitious squad.