Zak Gilsenan is set to join the FCBEscola football academy which has produced the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Lionel Messi.
The schoolboy went on trial with the La Liga giants in May and after seeing off 400 other young hopefuls won a second trial with the Catalan club in June in which he excelled, scoring seven goals in a trial match.
Gilsenan was living in Australia with his family when he was spotted by Tottenham scouts after playing in a summer camp hosted by the club and he looked all set to sign for the north London outfit before a call from Barca led to his trial and the lure of the Camp Nou proved too much for the junior sensation to turn down.
Stephen Gilsenan, Zak's father, told the Sun: "We came home with the intention of letting Zak go to Spurs, but in the meantime we had a call from Barcelona. One of their former players saw him playing in Oz and recommended him to Barca.
"They offered Zak a trial in May and it was a great experience. It consisted of over 400 boys from all over the world. He was asked back in June when it was cut down to 90.
"Then in a match between the top 16 players, Zak just ran riot and scored seven goals. He was phenomenal. Then we heard back two weeks ago and they offered him a spot."
Gilsenan's family will now move to Spain to give the gifted youngster the best chance of making the grade at the famous academy.
"I know Zak is young to be doing this but kids are like a sponge at this age," his proud father said.
"People say we are mad but in Barcelona he will be educated in the best footballing techniques.
"All we can do is go and see how it develops. We know it’s ruthless over there. We don’t want him turned into a machine we just want him to enjoy it. It’s his dream to play for Ireland," he continued.
Gilsenan is the second Irish youngster to be signed by one of Spain’s big two after Mayo’s John Joe Patrick Finn was signed by El Clasico rival’s Real Madrid in May.
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