Barcelona have completed the signing of 19-year-old Palmeiras attacking midfielder Vitinho on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy, the Catalan club confirmed on Tuesday.
Vitinho, full name Victor Hugo Santana Carvalho, has been earmarked for Barca's B team but will spend preseason with the first team.
Ernesto Valverde will include the Brazilian in his squad for the tour of the United States, where the Blaugrana will play Juventus, Manchester United and Real Madrid as part of the International Champions Cup.
Despite his initial involvement with the first team, though, Vitinho heads to Spain to form part of Gerard Lopez's B team, who secured promotion back to the second tier of Spanish football last season.
📝 The Brazilian attacking midfielder Vitinho, on loan from Palmeiras, is now an FC Barcelona player. https://t.co/j4yvTymdlZ #FCBMasia pic.twitter.com/ZOLMfmLQVf
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 11, 2017
In a deal similar to the one which saw Marlon Santos arrive at Camp Nou last summer, Barca have an option to sign Vitinho on a permanent basis when his loan expires for a fee of around €12 million.
Defender Marlon joined on a loan deal from Fluminense but Barca took up their option to sign him for €6m in June.
Vitinho, who has made just two top flight appearances for Palmeiras and none this season, is looking hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Barca's previous Brazilians.
"I'm really happy to be here," he told the club's website. "I have always been a big follower of Barca, the best club in the world, and now I can play for the same team where Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were such a success and with my idol, Neymar."
