Hamburg confirms Halilovic move from Barcelona

Hamburg announced the signing of young Croatian attacker Alen Halilovic on Thursday, with the 20-year-old making the switch from Barcelona.

Halilovic joins the midtable Bundesliga side on a four-year deal for €5 million, with Barcelona inserting a buy-back clause of €10 million, and the right to first refusal, according to a statement on the Catalans' website.

One of several Blaugrana prodigies that failed to secure first team minutes in Luis Enrique's Barcelona squad, Halilovic spent last season on loan with Sporting Gijon.

(Courtesy: @HSV)

Halilovic's spell with Los Rojiblancos fulfilled his prodigious expectations, with the eight-time capped Croatian international appearing in all but two of the club's league fixtures, scoring three goals to go with five assists for a side that narrowly avoided the drop.

"I think his profile fits well into the team. It is good for our team, very agile, very dribbler, and talented," Hamburg sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer noted Thursday as Halilovic put pen to paper.

The former Dinamo Zagreb product has been given the No. 23 kit previously worn by decorated Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

"I know that the 23 in Hamburg has a great significance, but I will do with the jersey of course my best."