Valentín Barco

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Valentín Barco
Barco with Argentina U20 in 2023
Personal information
Full name Valentín Barco[1]
Date of birth (2004-07-23) 23 July 2004 (age 19)[1]
Place of birth Veinticinco de Mayo, Buenos Aires, Argentina[2]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Left-back, wide midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion
Number 19
Youth career
2007–2013 Sportivo Las Parejas
2013–2014 Norberto de la Riestra[3]
2014–2021 Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Boca Juniors 23 (1)
2024– Brighton & Hove Albion 4 (0)
International career‡
2019 Argentina U15 6 (3)
2022– Argentina U20 11 (1)
2023– Argentina U23 2 (1)
2024– Argentina 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:17, 5 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 04:40, 23 March 2024 (UTC)

Valentín Barco (born 23 July 2004) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a left-back or wide midfielder for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Argentina national team. He was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation" list for 2021.[4]

Club career[edit]

Boca Juniors[edit]

In 2021, Barco was scouted by Argentine club Boca Juniors and immediately signed his professional contract.[5] On 16 July 2021, he made his professional debut at 16 years old in a 1–1 draw against Unión.[6][7][better source needed] On 29 June 2023, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 win over Monagas in the Copa Libertadores.[8][better source needed] Less than one month later on 24 July, he scored his first league goal in a 2–1 victory against Newell's Old Boys after converting a cross from Pol Fernández.[9][better source needed]

Brighton & Hove Albion[edit]

On 20 January 2024, Barco transferred to English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around $10 million (€9.1 million), signing a four-and-a-half year contract until 30 June 2028.[10][11]

International career[edit]

On 23 March 2024, Barco debuted for the Argentine senior squad on 23 March 2024 in a friendly match against El Salvador.[12]

Style of play[edit]

Barco has been described as one of Argentina's most exciting youth prospects. He normally plays as a marauding full-back who can make forward runs and create chances for his teammates. He has also been noted for his versatility, having played as a winger.[13][14][15]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of match played 5 May 2024[16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Boca Juniors 2021 Argentine Primera División 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023 20 1 3 0 9[b] 1 32 2
Total 23 1 3 0 9 1 35 2
Brighton & Hove Albion 2023–24 Premier League 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 0
Career total 27 1 4 0 9 1 40 2
  1. ^ Includes Copa Argentina, FA Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores

International[edit]

As of match played 22 March 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Argentina 2024 1 0
Total 1 0

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Argentina (ARG)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ Valentín Barco at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ Parrottino, Roberto (20 May 2023). "El Colo Barco no sonríe". Cenital (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 7 October 2021.
  5. ^ Boero, Germán (17 August 2021). "Valentin Barco: Boca Juniors wonderkid who could be Manchester City-bound". Goal. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Valentín Barco set to join Brighton from Boca Juniors". OneFootball]]. 11 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Unión (Santa Fe) 1–1 Boca Juniors | Final Score". ESPN. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Boca Juniors 4-0 Monagas SC | Final Score". ESPN. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Boca Juniors 2–1 Newell's Old Boys". ESPN. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Valentin Barco joins Albion from Boca Juniors". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 20 January 2024.
  11. ^ O'Sullivan, Joseph (16 January 2024). "Brighton Sign Valentín Barco From Boca Juniors For $10 Million Fee". Forbes. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  12. ^ Castillo, Nico (23 March 2024). "Valentín Barco, el integrante número 45 de los debutantes en el ciclo del "Leónidas"". Vavel (in Spanish).
  13. ^ Kulig, Jacek (31 May 2021). "Valentín Barco". Football Talent Scout. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Valentin Barco: Why Man City and Liverpool are targeting the teenage Boca Juniors left-back who moonlights as an attacking playmaker". Goal. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Barco: I try to be an all-round full-back". FIFA. 12 January 2024.
  16. ^ Valentín Barco at Soccerway
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