Abdul Aziz Issah arrived in the city of Barcelona with quiet promise. A silky, intelligent midfielder with leadership in his veins, he stepped into the famed La Masia corridors in September 2024 with hopes as bright as the Catalan sun.
He wasn’t alone. Alongside him was fellow countryman David Oduro, who inked a permanent deal until 2027. For Issah, the story was different, a loan move from Dreams FC, a foot in the door of European football’s elite.
In the 2023/24 season, the attacking midfielder was one of the breakout performers in the CAF Confederation Cup, playing for Dreams FC.
At just 18, he was central to the club’s historic run to the semi-finals, contributing four goals and two assists in ten matches.
His most iconic moment? A long-range goal from the center circle against Lobito, a strike so stunning it was shortlisted for CAF Goal of the Year 2024.
His consistency and flair didn’t go unnoticed, earning him nominations for Young Player of the Year, Interclub Player of the Year, and Goal of the Year at the 2024 CAF Awards. Recognition that ultimately prompted Barcelona to make a move for him.
In September 2024, Issah completed a dream move to Barcelona Atlètic, the B team of the Spanish giants, a calculated test of his potential at a higher level.
Under newly appointed manager Hansi-Dieter Flick, Issah was invited to train with the first team. Expectations were high.
Issah had proven himself in African club football and was now entering European development, a natural next step. But that step never materialised.
Issah featured for only 16 minutes against Real Sociedad B and another 10 minutes against Nàstic. After that, he disappeared from selection completely.
Neither Albert Sanchez nor Sergi Milla, coaches of Barcelona Atlètic, called on him again, not even when the squad lacked numbers.
There were no injury updates, no formal disciplinary issues. He simply vanished from the football radar, an unused talent on a team that had once welcomed him with open arms.
In April 2025, he rejoined the Ghana U-20s for the Africa Cup of Nations as the team sought qualification for the 2025 U-20 World Cup. He won the Man of the Match in a group-stage win over the Central African Republic.
Ghana were eliminated in the quarter finals against Egypt, but he showed glimpses of the form that convinced Barcelona to sign him. But upon returning to Spain, nothing changed; he remained sidelined and didn’t feature again.
Now, as the season ends, Issah will leave Barcelona Atlètic without the club triggering the purchase option.
They may assist him in finding another opportunity in Europe, but the experience at Barcelona, from arrival to exit, feels like a chapter that was never written.
For a player whose performance at Dreams FC earned him continental recognition and a ticket to Spain, his time at Barcelona has been defined by silence.
FKA/MA
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