Barcelona will not land Jorthy Mokio in the summer transfer window, with Ajax set to sign the 16-year-old Belgian wonderkid from KAA Gent.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Jorthy Mokio has been the subject of interest from Barcelona. However, the Catalan giants have lost the race to sign the 16-year-old defensive sensation from KAA Gent, with Eredivisie heavyweights Ajax winning the battle for his signature.
Jorthy Mokio and his rising stock
Jorthy Mokio is one of the brightest young prospects to have emerged in Belgian football in the last few years. One of the flag bearers of the new generation of potential world-beaters in his homeland, the teenage prospect has made considerable progress since joining KAA Gent from KFC Merelbeke a few years ago.
The 16-year-old made his first-team debut for KAA Gent towards the end of the 2023/24 season. Mokio has turned out four times thus far for the Belgian giants, amassing 130 minutes of game time. Meanwhile, the young defender’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe.
Widespread reports had reported for several weeks that Jorthy Mokio’s next destination would be Barcelona. However, recent developments have pointed to the emergence of Dutch clubs, which has put the Blaugrana in a spot of bother.
Barcelona’s interest in Jorthy Mokio was hardly surprising. The Catalan giants constantly scour the market for highly-rated prospects across Europe. Such an outlook has helped Barcelona sign current first-team stars like Pedri and Gavi. The KAA Gent wonderkid had also emerged as a viable target for the Blaugrana.
Mokio picks Ajax over Barcelona
Barcelona thought they would win the race to sign Mokio after Deco’s meetings with his entourage. However, that is not to be, with Ajax clinching the battle for the youngster’s signature. While the Catalan giants thought they had a “deal” with Mokio’s entourage, the 16-year-old Belgian wonderkid has picked the Ajax project and a better salary at the Dutch club.
The latest update has been a blow to Barcelona’s prospects, and they must set their sights elsewhere to sign a young centre-back. It will be interesting to see who emerges as a target after the 16-year-old joins Ajax.
