Barcelona’s latest La Masia gem, Pedro “Dro” Fernández, has made his long-awaited breakthrough into the first team. The 17-year-old midfielder officially debuted in both LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League during the 2025–26 season under Hansi Flick, continuing the club’s proud tradition of nurturing homegrown talent.
According to SoftFootball, Dro started in the 2–1 win over Real Sociedad at Montjuïc on September 28, marking his first-ever appearance in Spain’s top flight. Just a few weeks later, he started again in the Champions League match against Olympiacos, a night that fans will remember for Fermín López’s brilliant performance.
Dro’s debut carries extra weight, coming at a time when Barcelona has struggled with injuries and relied heavily on its academy products, as reported by Softfootball. After his first two senior outings, the young midfielder expressed deep pride in wearing the Barça jersey. Dro said in a video posted by Barcelona on their official X account:
Whether it’s the Champions League, LaLiga or Copa, making my debut in this jersey is always very special.
He described his experience as truly unique and admitted feeling a bit nervous at first but grew calmer and more confident in his second appearance, crediting Flick and his senior teammates for helping him adjust quickly.
Watch the video below:
Dro’s rise to prominence began during the pre-season tour of Japan and Korea, where he caught attention with a spectacular volley against Vissel Kobe. Born in the Philippines but representing Spain at youth levels, he joined La Masia in 2022 and has since been known for his creativity, maturity, and versatility — excelling both as an attacking midfielder and on the left wing.
Now fully integrated into Flick’s first-team setup, Dro trains regularly with the senior side and remains one of Barcelona’s most exciting prospects. While interest from abroad continues to grow, particularly from West Ham United, the club remains focused on developing its young talent, with Dro standing out as one of the brightest symbols of Barça’s future.
