Youth, goals and experience

Despite having just turned 23, the striker has made more than 100 appearances in the First Division and was one of the captains at Valencia

A centre-forward and member of the Spanish national team, the 23-year-old is one of the most promising strikers in Spanish football.

Francisco 'Paco' Alcácer García, born on 30 August 1993, arrives at FC Barcelona following his trajectory at Valencia CF, the club where he grew up and where, despite his youth, he has been on the first team for years now.

It’s been almost six years since Paco Alcácer made his official debut, which came under head coach Unai Emery on 11 November 2010, in the second leg of the Copa del Rey last 32 against UD Logroñés.

Alcácer’s growth and definitive role as one of the captains of Valencia were the culmination of a youth career that saw him become one of the most important players on the reserve team, Valencia Mestalla.

As an elite player, Alcácer debuted in the First Division on 14 January 2012 against Real Sociedad, while still a member of Valencia Mestalla. Later, he was sent on loan to Getafe for the 2012/13 season, when he played 23 games and scored four goals in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

Since returning to Valencia for the 2013/14 season, the Torrent native has played 119 games (89 in La Liga, 10 in the Copa del Rey, 7 in the Champions League, and 13 in the Europa League) and has scored 43 goals (30 in La Liga, 6 in the Copa del Rey, and 7 in the Europa League).

Overall, Alcácer has played in 146 matches and has scored 47 goals since his 2010 debut. Alcácer is a centre forward with great football intelligence to complement his speed, his ability to take over games, his great technical skill, and a lethal ability to find the net. Young but experienced, he is considered one of the great young talents of the competition.

International with Spain

Until making his debut for the Spanish national team in a September 2014 friendly against France, Alcácer’s progress was constant in the lower categories. He was runner-up in the European Championships with the Under-17 national team in 2010, when he was the leading scorer with six goals. But his biggest successes came with the U-19 team — two European Championships (2011 and 2012).

Alcácer also participated in the U-20 World Cup in Turkey in 2013.

With the senior team, Alcácer has already made 13 appearances and has scored six goals.