Karl Etta Eyong’s story is starting to feel less like hype and more like something real unfolding before everyone. What has been a solid La Liga campaign with Levante has now spilt onto the AFCON stage, and scouts across Europe are paying attention.
Sports expert Fabrizio Romano reported via his official X account that Barcelona and some Premier League clubs are closely monitoring Karl-Etta’s situation.
He said:
Barcelona and Premier League clubs are tracking Etta Eyong also at the AFCON this month. He’s scored his first goal for Cameroon at the AFCON yesterday and remains on Barça and PL sides shortlist for 2026.
Softfootball understands that the 22-year-old striker scored the only goal in Cameroon’s narrow 1–0 victory over Gabon. It was his first goal at the Africa Cup of Nations, yet he took it with surprising calm.
The move began with Bryan Mbeumo slicing open the defence with a neat through ball, and Etta Eyong did the rest. A VAR check briefly slowed celebrations for offside, but the goal stood.
Barcelona scouts were in the stands that night, and that detail shouldn’t be ignored. Robert Lewandowski, who recently ruled out a Barcelona exit or retirement, with his contract running toward its final stretch after June 2026, Barça are already thinking ahead.
Etta Eyong fits a profile they’ve been leaning toward lately: young, adaptable, and not overly expensive.
His numbers at Levante back it up. Six goals and three assists in 16 La Liga appearances this season have shown consistency. More importantly, his movement, pressing, and decision-making under pressure stand out.
He doesn’t always look flashy, yet defenders struggle to keep track of him. Sometimes that matters more. While his release clause sits at €30 million, sources suggest Levante could accept closer to €15 million due to financial clauses linked to his move from Villarreal.
That figure alone has sparked wider interest. Add his open admiration for Barcelona, and suddenly the door doesn’t feel so closed.
Premier League clubs are circling too, making this a crowded race. Barcelona’s interest actually goes back to summer 2025, when salary cap limits shut things down early. Now, with the 2026 window in sight, they’re looking again.
AFCON has a way of changing careers. For Karl Etta Eyong, it already feels like that moment has arrived, or maybe it’s just beginning.
