FC Barcelona is reportedly targeting Cameroon and Levante forward Karl Etta Eyong, seeing him as a possible replacement for ageing striker Robert Lewandowski. So, who is he, and why has he impressed the Spanish giants?
Who Is Karl Etta Eyong?
Karl Edouard Blaise Etta Eyong is a 22-year-old striker who also plays in the midfield on occasion. He started playing football in his hometown of Douala before moving to Europe and joining the youth side of Spanish club Cádiz in January 2022. Initially a midfielder, Eyong became a striker in the youth leagues. After two years, he made it to the Cadiz first team on January 19, 2024, at the age of 20.
At the end of the 2023-24 season, Karl signed with Villarreal’s reserve team, Villarreal B, in the Primera Federación, the third division of Spanish football.
By April 2025, he was promoted to the main team and made his La Liga debut in a 2-2 draw against Real Sociedad. He would make seven appearances for the team that season, scoring two goals and making two assists.
At the start of September 2025, Karl Etta Eyong transferred to another La Liga side, Levante, on a contract that will expire in 2029 and a 30 million euro release clause, where he has made an explosive start. So far, he has scored five times in his nine appearances and is putting the league on notice.
Eyong also played for the Cameroon U-23 side for a couple of years before making his senior team debut earlier this year. He has made three appearances for his national side so far.
As a young, promising striker, naturally, several European clubs have an eye on the Cameroonian. Russian club CSKA Moscow even made a bid for him that was immediately rejected. However, there is a clear favourite in the race to get Eyong, that being Barcelona, the club he grew up supporting.
Cameron head coach Marc Brys has sung high praises about his youthful striker, suggesting that he has the skill and athleticism to have a Lamine Yamal-esque rise with the Blaugrana.
“I think so, given his potential. There’s always room for a new player on a team if they have the right qualities. Look at Lamine Yamal: a year ago, nobody thought he’d be playing for the first team, and now he’s a key player. Etta has that potential too. He’s dangerous, unpredictable, and can surprise anyone. And that’s valuable for any top team,” said Brys in an interview with Mundo Deportivo.
And yes, if Barca is eyeing the young striker, they are surely looking at him as a replacement for the legendary Robert Lewandowski, who turned 37 earlier this year.
But Etta Eyong still has a lot of developing to do. While his game is athletic and unpredictable, and based on his relentless work ethic, the fact that he has been playing as a striker for only a few years means his game needs growth for him to be a frontline forward at a top European club.
“He needs to continue developing, to integrate more fully, but he has the potential to score a lot of goals. He’s already shown that, although he hasn’t yet reached his full potential. We’d like to continue working with him because he can keep growing and go very far,” Brys continued.
The next transfer window will be a big one for Karl Etta Eyong, who will be on the shortlist of a lot of clubs. However, for that to happen, he needs to keep up his scintillating form for the rest of the season.
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