A visa has stopped Bisiwu
Barcelona have completed the registrations of Rodri, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon and João Cancelo. Just when it appeared safe to close the LaLiga registration page and declare the paperwork finished, one final detail emerged. Jesse Bisiwu is still waiting.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the 18-year-old winger cannot be registered because of an administrative issue involving his visa. This time, the problem is not the salary limit, the need to sell another player or missing documents from Saudi Arabia. Barcelona have overcome their finances. Ordinary bureaucracy has taken over.
Bisiwu did not take part in Saturday’s first-team training session ahead of the league match against Elche. The Belgian returned to Barça Atlètic alongside Orian Goren and Ebrima Tunkara, with his own situation directly linked to the unresolved visa procedure.
The winger could now feature for the reserve team in Sunday’s friendly against CF Vilanova. The match is scheduled to begin at 19:00 CEST at the Estadi Alumnes Obrers, less than three hours before Barcelona’s first team kick off against Elche.
The situation is particularly strange because Bisiwu has already completed almost every ceremonial part of becoming a Barcelona player. The club officially announced his arrival from Club Brugge on 31 July. He signed a contract running until 30 June 2031, was presented at the club offices, received his shirt and membership card, trained under Hansi Flick and made his preseason debut against Udinese.
The only thing missing is the most practical part: permission to be officially registered for competitive football.
This does not mean Bisiwu was guaranteed a place in the squad for Elche. Barcelona always expected the teenager to divide his time between the senior side and Barça Atlètic. The visa issue removes the sporting decision from Flick’s hands, however. The coach cannot select the player until the administrative process has been completed.
Bisiwu arrived as an investment for the future. He was named in the team of the tournament at the 2025 European Under-17 Championship and gained UEFA Youth League experience with Club Brugge. Barcelona highlighted his pace, strength and ability in one-on-one situations when announcing the transfer.
He will have an opportunity to demonstrate those qualities later. For now, one of Barcelona’s youngest summer signings is returning to the reserves because the club is still waiting for the correct document. Everyone else has been registered. A completely uncomplicated ending would apparently have been asking too much.
