Barcelona forward Ansu Fati has completed a season-long loan move to AS Monaco ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, reaffirming his intent to reignite a career that has faced repeated setbacks in recent years.

The move was finalized shortly after the 21-year-old extended his contract with Barcelona until the end of the 2027/28 season, signaling the club’s continued belief in his long-term potential despite limited playing time in recent seasons.

According to football sources, Fati was drawn to the opportunity of playing in France’s Ligue 1 and competing in the UEFA Champions League—both key factors in his decision to join Monaco. The Spanish international is eager to gain consistent playing time and rebuild momentum after featuring sporadically under new Barcelona manager Hansi Flick last season.

Fati made just 11 appearances across all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, with only three starts and 297 minutes on the pitch in total. This underwhelming season followed a loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, where he scored four goals in 27 appearances during the 2023/24 campaign.

Ansu Fati first captured the world’s attention in 2019, debuting for Barcelona’s senior team at the age of 16 years and 298 days. Just days later, he made history by becoming one of the youngest players to score in La Liga, heading home a goal against Osasuna at 16 years and 304 days.

Later that year, he cemented his status as a generational talent by becoming the youngest-ever goal scorer in UEFA Champions League history, netting against Inter Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium at 17 years and 40 days—a record that surpassed the previous mark set in 1997. He remains 28 days younger than current Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, the second youngest on the list.

Fati has scored 29 goals in 123 appearances for Barcelona and earned 10 caps for Spain, scoring twice. However, he has not featured for the national team since 2023 due to form and fitness concerns.

After a promising start to his senior career, Fati’s momentum was derailed by a series of injuries, beginning with a serious knee injury in November 2020, which sidelined him for the remainder of that season. While he managed a relatively stable run during the 2022/23 campaign—featuring in 51 games and scoring 10 goals—his physical challenges persisted.

His loan spell at Brighton in 2023/24 was marked by flashes of brilliance but also hampered by recurring fitness issues. Nevertheless, he contributed to the English club’s solid campaign before returning to Barcelona last summer.

Back under the tutelage of new coach Hansi Flick in 2024/25, Fati added to his trophy cabinet, winning his second La Liga title, second Copa del Rey, and second Spanish Super Cup, despite limited appearances.

Now set for a fresh challenge in Ligue 1, Fati is hoping that the move to Monaco provides the stability and consistent playing time he needs to rediscover the form that once made him one of the most exciting young talents in world football.

Barcelona’s decision to extend his contract before sanctioning the loan indicates that the club still considers him a key part of their future plans. As Fati embarks on this new chapter, both Monaco and Barcelona fans will be watching closely to see if the gifted forward can finally enjoy an uninterrupted season and fulfill his early promise.