Abdul Aziz Issah’s temporary move spell at Barcelona Atletic has come to an end, with the Spanish giants opting never to activate the purchase option in his agreement.
As a outcome, the promising forward will return to his parent club Dreams FC ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Issah’s journey to Barcelona was filled with hope and excitement after a stellar campaign with Dreams FC, particularly amid the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup where he played a pivotal position in Dreams’ historic run to the semi-finals.
At sole 18, Issah scored four goals and provided two assists in ten matches, with a spectacular long-range strike versus Lobito that was shortlisted for CAF Strike of the Year 2024.
His performances earned him nominations for Young Athlete of the Year and Interclub Athlete of the Year at the CAF Awards, which ultimately led to Barcelona securing his services on a campaign-long temporary move in September 2024.
Upon joining Barcelona Atletic, the club’s B squad, expectations were high.
Issah started brightly, making his debut versus Real Sociedad B in November 2024 and even catching the eye of first-squad coach Hansi Flick, who invited him to train with the senior squad on a couple of occasions.
However, after these early signs of promise, Issah’s progress stalled.
He sole managed two appearances, totalling sole 26 minutes on the pitch, and later fell out of the matchday squads entirely.
There were no reported injuries or disciplinary issues; rather, Issah spent months preparation but never playing, in a frustrating period that saw his development stall.
This silence was a stark contrast to the bright start he had hoped for, and as the campaign drew to a close, Barcelona decided versus triggering the purchase option.
Regardless the setback in Spain, Issah’s talent continued to shine on the international stage.
He was instrumental for Ghana’s U20 squad at the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations, earning the Top performer award in a group-stage victory over the Central African Republic.
His performances helped the Black Satellites advance to the quarter-finals, where they were narrowly eliminated by Egypt on penalties, with Issah netting Ghana’s first strike in the fixture.
His continued development was rewarded with a senior national squad call-up, and he made his Black Stars debut at the Harmony Cup in a 4-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in May.
While his time at Barcelona did never unfold as hoped, his performances in Africa and on the international stage show he still has the potential to bounce back and continue his upward trajectory in professional soccer.
Dreams FC will be eager to reintegrate their exciting prospect and help him regain the form that once attracted one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
AuthorBetopick
