New Eto’o on the rise - Cameroonian close to Barcelona

Last summer, an unnoticed transfer took place in Spanish football — one that, in the long run, could turn out to be far more interesting than it initially seemed. Young Cameroonian Etta Eyong began the season at Villarreal, where he immediately showcased an impressive instinct in front of goal, scoring once and providing two assists in his first three matches.

After moving to Levante, the young striker exploded: four goals and one more assist in five appearances. In total, so far this season he has five goals and three assists in eight games, placing him just behind Kylian Mbappe and Julian Alvarez on the list of the most efficient players across Europe’s top five leagues.

Levante signed Eyong from Villarreal this summer for 3 million euros, tying him down until 2029 with a 30 million euros release clause. At first glance, it seemed the Frogs had secured their gem well, but given the way the Cameroonian is playing now, that figure looks like a real bargain for clubs such as Barcelona.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Eyong is on Barcelona’s radar, and the Blaugrana are considering making a move as early as the January transfer window. They could potentially buy him in winter and leave him at Levante until the end of the season, since he cannot be registered immediately — Eyong has already played for two clubs this season.

In Catalonia, Eyong is viewed as a classic number nine, a penalty-box striker similar in profile to Lewandowski, but with more pace and explosiveness. That exact type of striker is what Barcelona currently lacks — especially if the 37-year-old Pole does not extend his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

Ferran Torres has done a decent job up front, but the club believes that signing a natural goal-scorer would be essential to continue their transition and squad rejuvenation.

Eyong’s excellent performances haven’t gone unnoticed in Cameroon either. He made his national team debut during the October international break, in a 2–0 win over Mauritius, and is expected to feature again against Angola. Naturally, Barcelona is not the only club keeping tabs on the young forward — several Premier League sides have also shown interest and could join the race next summer.

However, a transfer to Barcelona this winter is not possible. Under FIFA regulations, a player can be registered with three clubs in one season but may play official matches for only two. Since Eyong has already appeared for both Villarreal and Levante, he would not be eligible to play for a third club — including Barcelona — until June.

Therefore, Barcelona continues to closely monitor the development of the young Cameroonian, ready to act if an opportunity arises to secure his signature ahead of rivals. If Etta Eyong keeps performing like this, that 30 million euros release clause could quickly turn into the bargain of the year.