Barcelona starlet Sergi Samper joins Granada on loan as Douglas moves to Sporting

Barcelona starlet Sergi Samper has completed his loan move to Granada, where he will be expected to continue developing under Paco Jemez before a return to the Nou Camp. The Catalan giants have also confirmed the departure of Douglas Pereira to Sporting Gijon for the remainder of the 2016-17 season after the Brazilian right-back found himself surplus to Luis Enrique's requirements.

The Spanish midfielder and Douglas become the eleventh and the twelfth players to leave the Nou Camp during the current transfer window, following in the footsteps of Claudio Bravo, Cristian Tello, Thomas Vermaelen, Dani Alves, Martin Montoya, Alex Song, Sandro Ramirez, Marc Bartra, Adriano and Alen Halilovic.

Samper, 21, made his first-team debut for Barcelona in the 2014-15 campaign, having worked his way up through the ranks at La Masia since the age of six. The Spain U21 international has been tipped as the long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets, and in July renewed his deal at the club until 2019 with the option of an additional year. However, with playing opportunities limited, Luis Enrique has sent him to Granada for the season.

"FC Barcelona and Granada CF have reached an agreement for the loan of the player Sergi Samper for the season 2016-17. The Andalusian club will take over the player's contractual conditions during the season and are committed to contractually making sure the player participates actively during his loan period," Barcelona confirmed.

Douglas was brought to Barcelona in the summer of 2014 to provide competition for Dani Alves at right-back. However, the 26-year-old has failed to register any impact at the Catalan side, making only eight appearance for the first-team during his first two seasons at the Nou Camp.

Some predicted he would get the chance to establish himself under Luis Enrique following the departure of Alves to Juventus. However, the boss made it clear in pre-season that Douglas was not in his plans for the new campaign, with Sergi Roberto and Aleix Vidal ahead of him in the pecking order.

Barcelona have been trying to find a new club for the player since the beginning of the transfer window, without success. They have now sent him on loan to Sporting for the remaining of the season to secure more playing time, paying his wages in full.

"FC Barcelona and Sporting Gijón have reached an agreement for the loan of Douglas to the Asturian club for the rest of the 2016-17 season. Sporting have made a contractual agreement that the player will be actively involved in the team during his loan year," the club confirmed. "The Brazilian full-back has represented the Barça colours for the last two seasons, appearing in eight games that have ended in four wins and four draws. He joined the club in the 2014-15 season from Sao Paulo and made his debut at Málaga in September 2014. FC Barcelona have won eight major trophies in his time here."