Barcelona's Alen Halilovic joins Sporting Gijon on loan

Barcelona have confirmed that young midfielder Alen Halilovic has joined Sporting Gijon on loan for the season.

Reports earlier this week suggested that Barca were keen to loan the 19-year-old out to their fellow La Liga side, and the move has today been confirmed on the club's official website.

The Croatian, who has played seven times for his country at senior level, joined Barcelona B last summer from Dinamo Zagreb and was a regular in his first season for the Segunda Division side.

After scoring four goals in 30 games, he was handed his first-team debut as a substitute by Luis Enrique in a Copa del Rey clash in January 2015 and he featured heavily in the club's tour of the United States this summer.