Nishiyama Shinta: 11-year-old Japanese forward emerging at Barcelona’s La Masia

Nishiyama Shinta, an 11-year-old Japanese attacker, has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy, according to reports published on 2026-10-13. He is currently listed in Barcelona’s U-12 ranks after recently progressing through the club’s youth levels.

La Masia, which produced players from the 2008-09 treble-winning side including Lionel Messi to current talents such as Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, has a new highly rated prospect in Shinta. Media coverage has drawn comparisons between Shinta and Lamine Yamal, and in Japan he has been dubbed the second Takefusa Kubo; Kubo, who also came through La Masia, now plays for Real Sociedad in LaLiga.

Born in Shibuya in 2014, Shinta began his football education in the Yokohama FC youth system and was noted for a powerful left foot and sharp dribbling. Around three years ago he moved to Catalonia with his family and joined Spanish youth club CF Damm. His performances at CF Damm drew attention from Barcelona’s scouts.

While at CF Damm, Shinta recorded 54 goals in 30 matches before signing for Barcelona’s academy at the age of nine. He entered La Masia as part of the U-11 team and scored 20 goals in his debut season for that age group.

Following that season he was promoted to the U-12 side and transitioned from seven-a-side to 11-a-side football. In the first six rounds of U-12 competition he scored six goals and also registered several assists, and he has been named in a youth league "Team of the Week." He has since been promoted to the U-13 side.

Reports note Shinta’s positional development from full-back to winger and describe him as an attacker known for a powerful left foot and close dribbling. Some media comparisons have likened his left-footed shooting to that of club captain Raphinha, and his early versatility has been highlighted in coverage of his progress.

Barcelona have promoted him to the U-13 side, and he is aiming to be part of the Japan national team for the 2030 FIFA World Cup despite being 15 at that time; Takefusa Kubo, by contrast, despite being highly rated in the youth setup, never played for Barcelona’s senior team.