Barcelona youngster Sama Nomoko has taken another encouraging step towards returning to football after resuming ball work following a lengthy recovery from a serious knee injury. According to Barca Universal on Saturday, November 7, 2026, the 18-year-old winger is approaching the final stages of his rehabilitation after spending almost a year recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) problem.

Nomoko, who represents Barcelona Atletic, damaged his right knee during a UEFA Youth League encounter against Eintracht Frankfurt in December 2025. The injury also involved his meniscus, making surgery necessary and leaving him facing an estimated 12-month recovery period.

Since undergoing the operation, the teenager has concentrated on rebuilding his fitness and preparing for a return to competitive action. His rehabilitation has progressed gradually, beginning with a return to outdoor training before advancing to more intensive running exercises.

His latest involvement in ball work marks another important stage in that process. It indicates that he is continuing to make progress and moving closer to the possibility of rejoining full team training.

Barcelona’s first-team medical department has supervised his recovery since August, carefully monitoring his condition and assessing his response to each stage of rehabilitation. The club remain cautious, however, and are unwilling to expose the youngster to unnecessary risks by bringing him back prematurely.

The medical staff are working alongside Barcelona Atletic coach Juliano Belletti to ensure that Nomoko completes the required recovery programme before being authorised to resume competitive football. Their priority is to avoid complications or another setback after such an extended absence.

Consequently, the winger is not expected to return to match action before January 2027. His availability will depend on completing the remaining stages of rehabilitation and receiving the necessary medical clearance.

Before suffering the injury, Nomoko had enjoyed a productive 2025/26 campaign with Barcelona Atletic. He made 14 appearances for the reserve side, registering two goals and three assists. Those contributions highlighted his attacking qualities and growing importance within the team.

He also featured for Barcelona’s Juvenil A side in the UEFA Youth League, recording one assist in four appearances. His performances at both levels had reportedly attracted positive attention within the club, where he was viewed as one of the academy’s promising young prospects.

Barcelona believe the winger has the potential to develop into a valuable player in the future. His progress before the injury had strengthened expectations surrounding his development, making the club keen to support his recovery and ensure he can resume his career without further complications.

The Catalan giants are also reportedly considering offering Nomoko a new contract. His current agreement is due to expire in 2027, and the club want to secure his future while continuing to oversee his development.

For the moment, returning to full fitness remains the priority. Barcelona intend to give him sufficient time to complete his rehabilitation rather than setting an unnecessarily early comeback target. His return to ball work is a positive sign, but the club will wait until he is physically ready before allowing him to compete again.