Alen Halilovic Joins Hamburg: Latest Transfer Details, Comments and Reaction

Barcelona playmaker Alen Halilovic joined German outfit Hamburger SV on Thursday after failing to make the grade at the Camp Nou.

The Spanish side confirmed his departure via its official Twitter account, while Hamburg posted an image of Halilovic with his new shirt after announcing his arrival:

Per Ignasi Oliva of Goal, the Catalan club has inserted a buyback clause into his contract. A figure of €10 million is set following his first season, which rises to €12.5 million by the end of 2017-18.

Halilovic departed Barca after failing to make a single league appearance for the club, per WhoScored.com. But despite a lack of first-team involvement at Barca, OptaJose showed the youngster was certainly a success at Sporting Gijon:

The creative midfielder spent the 2015-16 campaign on loan at Sporting and helped the Asturian outfit stave off relegation to the Segunda Division with a 17th-place finish.

Halilovic is now looking forward to the opportunities that await him in Hamburg, and he informed Goal's Hrvoje Tironi that he feels the switch to Germany can prove to be a "big step" in his development:

"

Barcelona was a positive experience. I also progressed during my time at Sporting Gijon. I played almost every league game for them last season. I'm very happy to have arrived in Hamburg. They’ve shown me that they are big club. I'm sure that this is a big step in my career.

I'm only 20 years old but I’ve experience of playing in La Liga and now I’m in the Bundesliga. HSV is huge club – it has great fans and a sold-out stadium with great atmosphere. 

I spoke with coach Bruno Labbadia and the directors. They’ve shown me how much they want me at the club. I will play as playmaker, Labbadia told me this, but I can play on the right wing. They keep number 23 for me. This is the biggest number in this club. Rafael van der Vaart wore this.

"

Despite his compact size—Halilovic stands at only 5'7"—he grew in stature and maturity during his first full season in La Liga.

According to WhoScored.com, the former Dinamo Zagreb player provided five assists and scored on three occasions during the 2015-16 campaign, and he won many plaudits because of his direct nature.

Sergi Dominguez of Grup 14 is hopeful the 20-year-old may soon return to the Camp Nou:

Squawka, meanwhile, provided the details of Halilovic's breakthrough season with Sporting:

His light frame means the Croat may be forced to wait for his chance at a top club, but he has the chance to return to Barcelona thanks to the reported buyback fee.

Darko Bandic/Associated Press

Overlooked for his country's UEFA Euro 2016 campaign, Halilovic has been tipped by many to play a starring role for Croatia in the future, while David Cartlidge, writing for FourFourTwo, believed he could have been a key figure at Barcelona in the years to come.

Take a look at Halilovic's performance against Barca, while on loan at Sporting, toward the end of the most recent Liga season:

Halilovic's transfer provides him with another opportunity to prove himself ahead of a potentially successful career with the Catalan club.