Barcelona’s decision to include Xavi Espart in their 30-man pre-season squad for Birmingham has only sharpened the focus on his next step, with Elche emerging as a possible LaLiga route for the young defender. It is not a done deal, but it would be a notable move for a player who has already edged closer to the senior set-up and picked up top-level experience.
- Espart was part of Barcelona’s 30-man squad for the Birmingham pre-season camp.
- The 2007-born right-back already has LaLiga and Champions League appearances to his name.
- Elche could offer a path to more regular top-flight football if he moves away from Barcelona’s immediate first-team orbit.
Xavi Espart’s Current Situation at Barcelona
Xavi Espart has spent the summer close to Barcelona’s senior environment, which is why the Elche possibility stands out now. He travelled with the club’s 30-man squad to Birmingham on 27 July 2026 and was also among the Barça Atlètic and youth-team players involved in first-team pre-season sessions.
That exposure has already led to senior appearances. Espart already has four LaLiga appearances from the 2025/26 season, including one start, and has also featured in the Champions League. For a player primarily deployed as a right-back, that is a meaningful base to build from as he weighs up whether his next step should be within Barcelona’s set-up or elsewhere.
Hansi Flick’s comments have only added to that sense of momentum. The Barcelona head coach said Espart had shown “top-level” quality in the Birmingham match and in training, a line that underlined the defender’s rising standing during pre-season. Espart is also understood to be under contract beyond this season, which makes any decision over his pathway feel more like a developmental call than a rushed exit.
Elche Could Offer Espart a LaLiga Pathway
Elche would offer Espart something slightly different: the chance to chase more regular senior football in LaLiga without dropping down a level. At this stage, there is no confirmed agreement, established fee, or clear loan or permanent structure attached to the idea, so the move remains a possibility rather than a done deal.
Barcelona’s recent handling of Espart points in a different direction, too. He has been kept close to the first-team group during pre-season, and that leaves a genuine choice between staying in Flick’s orbit or taking a new route where minutes could arrive more consistently.
Elche’s top-flight status makes the rumour more plausible.
The Barcelona 2007 Generation Connection
Espart’s situation also taps into the wider conversation around Barcelona’s 2007-born talent pool. Pau Cubarsí, Marc Bernal and Lamine Yamal have already clocked up senior LaLiga minutes, and Espart’s own progress has started to place him in that same broader top-flight picture.
A move to Elche would not literally reunite that group at one club. What it could do is strengthen Espart’s place in the same generational narrative.
If the Elche option develops, it could become an important next chapter for Espart.
