By Gabriel Ameh
A 12-year-old footballer of Nigerian heritage, Destiny Kosiso Ejiofor John, is attracting attention at FC Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy after recording impressive goalscoring numbers and delivering standout performances in youth competitions.
Born in Spain in 2014 to Nigerian parents, Kosiso is eligible to represent Nigeria or Spain at international level. His development at Barcelona has drawn interest from football followers eager to see how far the young forward can progress.
According to Spanish media reports, Kosiso scored 145 goals in 52 matches across two seasons in seven-a-side football. During the 2023–24 season, he reportedly scored 100 goals in 27 appearances for Barcelona’s Under-10 side. These figures have helped establish his reputation as a prolific young goalscorer.
Kosiso Hits Hat-Trick Against Villarreal
The young striker continued to demonstrate his scoring ability at the LaLiga FC Futures tournament in Orlando, where he scored a hat-trick to help Barcelona defeat Villarreal’s Under-12 team 4–1.
Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that Kosiso produced the decisive performance as Barcelona recovered from a difficult start to the tournament and secured progress to the knockout stages.
His pace, strength, movement and finishing have made him one of the young forwards attracting attention within Barcelona’s youth setup.
Kosiso has also impressed in other youth competitions. In June 2026, he scored a hat-trick against Real Oviedo in the LaLiga FC Futures tournament, further demonstrating his attacking ability.
Barcelona Prospect Eligible to Represent Nigeria
Kosiso’s Nigerian roots have generated interest among supporters who hope to see him represent the Super Eagles in the future.
However, the youngster was born in Spain and is eligible to represent either country, subject to the applicable international football eligibility rules. There is no indication in the available reports that he has committed his international future to Nigeria or Spain.
His progress presents a potential opportunity for Nigerian football authorities to monitor talented players of Nigerian heritage developing in prominent European academies.
At just 12, Kosiso still has several stages of development ahead of him before senior international football becomes a realistic prospect. His long-term success will depend on his continued progress, consistency, physical development and opportunities at higher levels.
For now, the Barcelona youngster remains a promising name to watch as he continues his football education at La Masia.
Source: Mundo Deportivo, Pulse Sports Nigeria and published youth football records.
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