Barcelona is in shock after teenage sensation Dro Fernández exercised his €6 million ($7 million) release clause, signaling his intention to leave the club this January, according to sources for ESPN.
This season, Fernández has made five appearances for the first team and is highly valued by coach Hansi Flick.
He recently celebrated his 18th birthday with a cake from teammate Raphinha during the flight back from Barcelona’s victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa final.
Barcelona had anticipated that he would extend his contract upon turning 18, which would allow them to raise his release clause above €6 million.
However, the club has been taken aback by Fernández’s recent announcement, shared by his camp, indicating his plans to depart, as first reported by Diario Sport.
Fernández has integrated well with the first team, receiving playing time in both the Champions League and LaLiga, which club insiders believed indicated a clear path for his development at Spotify Camp Nou.
While it remains uncertain where Fernández intends to move, sources have confirmed that Borussia Dortmund is one of the clubs expressing significant interest.
European clubs, particularly in Germany and England, have been monitoring the young attacking midfielder for years, with Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Chelsea also among the interested parties, according to sources.
Additionally, Paris Saint-Germain, with coach Luis Enrique’s close relationship with Fernández’s agent Ivan de la Peña, is being mentioned as a potential landing spot.
Fernández joined Barcelona at the age of 14 in 2022 and quickly advanced through the ranks of the academy, drawing comparisons to esteemed players such as Thiago Alcantara and Pedri.
He announced his arrival to the first team with a remarkable goal during preseason against Daegu FC and subsequently made his competitive debut in LaLiga against Real Sociedad.
He earned his first Champions League start against Olympiacos, where he assisted Fermín López, becoming the second-youngest player to provide an assist in this prestigious competition, following US international Giovanni Reyna.