The spirit of Samuel Eto’o is alive and well in the thoughts of Barcelona’s recruitment team. On Thursday, December 25, 2025, reports from SPORT and Mundo Deportivo confirmed that FC Barcelona have sent high-level scouts to Morocco to closely monitor 22-year-old Cameroon forward Karl Etta Eyong during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Eyong, who currently plays for Levante in La Liga, has become the talk of the tournament after scoring the decisive goal in Cameroon's 1–0 opening-day victory over Gabon on Christmas Eve.
A Summer Target Revisited
Barcelona’s interest in Eyong is not a sudden whim. The club reportedly attempted to sign him in August 2025 while he was still at Villarreal, but La Liga’s strict salary cap restrictions prevented the "low-cost" operation from crossing the finish line.
The Levante Move: With Barça unable to act, Eyong signed a four-year deal with Levante on September 1, 2025.
The Performance: He has transitioned seamlessly, netting 6 goals and 3 assists in 15 La Liga appearances this season—including a memorable strike against Real Madrid.
The "Low-Cost" Logic: While Eyong has a €30 million release clause, a specific agreement between Villarreal and Levante reportedly allows him to be sold for just €15 million if a top-tier club comes calling in June 2026.
Scouting Beyond Goals: Samuel Kotto
The scouts at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir haven't just been watching the frontline. Reports suggest that Eyong's Cameroon teammate, Samuel Kotto, has also caught the eye.
Profile: A 22-year-old, 1.90m tall, left-footed center-back currently playing for Gent in Belgium.
The Fit: With Inigo Martinez’s departure leaving a void in the left-sided defense, Kotto is being viewed as a high-upside, affordable alternative to premium targets like Alessandro Bastoni.
Premier League Competition
Barcelona isn't alone in the stands. Fabrizio Romano reports that several Premier League clubs, most notably Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, have also placed Eyong on their "January shortlist."
Tottenham, in particular, is said to be seeking a younger profile of striker to compete with Dominic Solanke, and Eyong's combination of "street football" flair and European tactical discipline makes him an attractive prospect for Ange Postecoglou’s system.
Etta Eyong’s 2025/26 Breakthrough
Competition,Apps,Goals,Notable Moment
La Liga (Levante),15,6,Scored vs. Real Madrid
AFCON 2025,1,1,Winner vs. Gabon (Dec 24)
Market Value,€18.4m,,Up from €5m in August
The Verdict: Eyong has never hidden his "excitement" at the prospect of joining Barcelona. If he continues his goal-scoring form through the AFCON knockouts, expect Joan Laporta to make him a priority "Project 2026" signing to provide depth behind an aging Robert Lewandowski.