According to a report by Barca Universal on Monday November 9, 2026, Barcelona have reached a five-year collaboration agreement with Brazilian youth club Sfera FC as sporting director Deco continues working to strengthen the club's recruitment network in South America.

The agreement is aimed at improving Barcelona's access to promising young Brazilian footballers and creating a closer relationship between the two clubs in player development.

Brazil has traditionally been one of the biggest producers of football talent, with several players from the country making successful careers in European football. Barcelona are therefore keen to strengthen their presence in the South American market and identify emerging talents before they attract attention from other major European clubs.

According to reports, the agreement with Sfera FC will give Barcelona priority access to players developed at the Brazilian academy.

Under the arrangement, youngsters identified by Barcelona as potential targets could be brought to La Masia, where the club's coaching staff will assess their abilities and determine whether they are suitable for a permanent move.

However, Barcelona will not automatically secure every player identified through the partnership, as the final decision will depend on the club's assessment of their potential.

Sfera FC will also benefit from the agreement, as the Brazilian club will retain a share of the rights to players developed through its academy and receive a percentage of any future transfer operations.

Sfera FC is based in Jarinu, in the interior of São Paulo, and was founded in 2021. Despite being a relatively young institution, it has already established itself as an important youth development centre in Brazilian football.

The club operates boys' and girls' teams across different age groups, from U11 to U19, and has enjoyed considerable success in youth competitions.

One of its biggest achievements came in 2025 when its U17 team won the Campeonato Paulista title, one of the most competitive youth competitions in Brazil.

Sfera FC also received official training club certification from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in 2023. The accreditation recognises leading youth development organisations in the country and highlights the quality of their academy structures.

Deco played a leading role in securing the agreement from Barcelona's side, having previously identified the Brazilian club's recruitment and development system as something that could benefit the Catalan giants.

Explaining the reasons behind the collaboration, the Barcelona sporting director said Brazil remained one of the world's leading producers of footballers and that having a partner in the country would improve the club's ability to identify young talents.

"We have identified in Sfera a modern system for recruiting and training athletes, which is why we decided to establish this alliance, which now allows us to optimize talent acquisition and the exchange of knowledge," Deco said.

Meanwhile, Sfera FC CEO Gustavo Aranha expressed his excitement about the agreement, describing Barcelona's recognition as a major achievement for the relatively young Brazilian institution.

"We are extremely proud and excited about this partnership with Barcelona," Aranha said.

He added that it was particularly motivating for the club to receive recognition from Barcelona despite having operated for only four years.

The agreement represents another important step in Deco's efforts to improve Barcelona's recruitment strategy and strengthen the club's connections with Brazilian football.

Barcelona have historically enjoyed strong relationships with Brazilian players, with legends such as Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Neymar and Dani Alves leaving their mark at the club.