17-year-old Filipino talent makes debut with Barca's first team

Young Filipino midfielder Dro Fernández played his first match against Real Sociedad.

Barcelona has just seen another promising talent from La Masia step onto the big stage. Pedro Fernández, commonly known as “Dro,” made his official debut for the first team in the match against Real Sociedad.

Only 17 years old and wearing the number 27 jersey, Dro was given a starting spot by coach Hansi Flick. He played the entire first half, impressing against Real Sociedad’s disciplined defense. With refined technique, smart vision, and rare confidence for his age, the Galician player demonstrated why he is considered one of Barcelona’s brightest prospects.

According to Sofascore, during his 45 minutes on the pitch, the 17-year-old talent had 32 touches, completed 24 out of 26 passes accurately (92% pass rate), created 2 key passes, and succeeded in 2 out of 3 dribbles. Beyond his attacking skills, Dro showed aggressiveness in duels, winning 3 out of 5 ground challenges and 1 out of 1 aerial duel.

Dro joined La Masia in 2022 from his hometown club Nigrán. Since then, he has made remarkable progress. Starting from the U16B team, the 2008-born player quickly advanced to the U19 squad, and within three years earned a spot on the first team. In the 2024/25 season, Dro played for both U19A and U19B, playing a key role in winning the UEFA Youth League by scoring and delivering impressive performances.

These impressive displays earned Dro a promotion to train with the first team at the start of the 2025/26 season. He participated in Barcelona’s Asian tour, scoring in the 3-1 victory over Vissel Kobe on July 27.

Dro’s debut is not just a personal milestone but also confirms coach Hansi Flick’s strategy of trusting young players. Barcelona is renowned for nurturing talent, and giving a 17-year-old the chance to play in La Liga is a clear testament to the sustainable development policy from La Masia.