Roony Bardghji has been enabled by LaLiga EA Sports as a player for the reserve team of FC Barcelona. The Swede was the last player pending registration, which was completed last Monday, September 1 with a Barça Atlètic card. Finally, the 19-year-old forward will wear the number '28', which was used by Marc Bernal last season.
Prior to Barça's visit to Rayo, the club closed the registrations of Wojciech Szczesny and Gerard Martín. Both benefited from the loan of Iñaki Peña to Elche and the termination of the contract of Oriol Romeu, moves that allowed to free up extra salary margin to register the goalkeeper and the full-back with the first team.
The initial idea was that Bardghji would also receive a First Division license, but the market closed and the club had no choice but to enable him with the reserve team card. Therefore, Roony will not wear, for the moment, the number '19' that he used during the preseason. LaLiga's website, however, has not yet updated Roony's registration or Bernal's new number.
¿Imminent Debut? Bardghji Points to the Match Against Valencia
In this sense, the Scandinavian player, former forward of Copenhagen, missed the first three commitments of Barça in LaLiga 2025/26, after the club could not resolve his registration in time.
The Swede was left out of the squads against Mallorca (0-3), Levante (2-3) and Rayo (1-1), the latter a match where Gerard Martín made his official debut. Szczesny was also enabled for the visit to Vallecas, staying on the bench as second goalkeeper.
Looking ahead to the commitment against Valencia, next Sunday, September 14 (21:00 CEST), Bardghji will finally enter a squad under the orders of Hansi Flick. Unless there is a surprise, his debut will take place at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, a stronghold enabled by LaLiga for matchday 4 if the Spotify Camp Nou does not receive the first occupancy license in time.
¡Closed Squad! What Does Bardghji's Arrival Mean for Barça?
In this order of ideas, the registration of Bardghji, in addition to representing a relief for the board, headed by President Joan Laporta, also gave way to the definitive closure of the summer market of Barça, who reinforced with Joan García, Marcus Rashford and Roony.
Now, the blaugrana team has a well-covered squad with 22 players registered with a card and number from the first team (there are three free places left, as each team has 25).
Also, apart from the first team players, Barcelona has six reserve team players (Diego Kochen, Jofre Torrents, 'Dro' Fernández, Guille Fernández and Toni Fernández, in addition to Bardhji), under the orders of Hansi Flick, but this is not a problem, as they are registered in the club's lower categories.
Gerard Martín, meanwhile, went from wearing the number '35' to having the '18', which was vacant after the departure of Pau Víctor to Sporting Braga, while 'Tek' retained the number '25' that he already used last season.
Now, Roony Bardghji takes the number '28'. Marc Bernal, on the other hand, takes the '22'. With his registration, Flick adds more gunpowder to the blaugrana offense, which for the moment has 7 goals in 3 league games (2.33 per game). Last season, the culés scored 102 goals in 38 matchdays (2.68 on average).
Roony Bardghji, Prepared for What's to Come with Barça
In that order of ideas, the right winger feels prepared to face any challenge that comes his way at Barça. And he will share the right wing with none other than Lamine Yamal. The '10', for now, carries the weight of the blaugrana offense, with a pair of goals and assists.
It should be noted that the Catalan team comes from winning LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, something they will seek to revalidate, so the rotations will be constant and it is there where Roony Bardghji hopes to gain prominence. The Kuwuait native managed to score a goal in the preseason and also did his homework in a friendly with the reserve team two weeks ago.
Also, Barça still carries the weight of not having won the UEFA Champions League in the last 10 years, being eliminated in the semifinals in the 2024/25 edition, so Flick's rotation plan will be crucial.