David Oduro Leaves Barcelona for Annecy in Ligue 2

David Oduro’s Barcelona chapter is over. The Ghanaian left-back, once seen as a long-term project at Barça Atletic, is heading to France to join Annecy in Ligue 2.

The Haute-Savoie side confirmed his arrival on Saturday, securing a 20-year-old who has already learned the hard way how unforgiving European football can be.

From bureaucratic limbo to regular football

Oduro landed at Barcelona two years ago as part of the club’s push to recruit emerging African talent, arriving alongside Aziz Issah and Ibrahim Diarra. On paper, he was tied down until 2027. In reality, his path never quite settled.

His debut season barely got off the ground. Paperwork problems dragged on for weeks, cutting into his rhythm and restricting him to just 10 appearances. By the time the issues were cleared, the campaign had largely passed him by.

Last season told a different story. Oduro featured in 23 games, his role growing as he adjusted to the demands of Spanish football and Barça’s structure. It looked like the foundation for a steady rise.

Instead, it becomes his farewell. Contract in place, but career moving on, Oduro now swaps the Mediterranean for the Alps and the intensity of Barça Atletic for the grind of France’s second tier.

Left-back reset under Belletti

His departure is part of a broader reshuffle on the left side of Juliano Belletti’s defence. Neither Oduro nor Jofre Torrents, who has joined Ajax, will be available to the new coach this season. Two options gone, one position suddenly wide open.

Barça have moved quickly. Josué Caicedo has arrived and impressed in pre-season, staking an early claim to the role. His adaptation and consistency will now be tested across a full campaign.

There is also a decision looming over Jordi Pesquer. After spells training with the first team, the club must choose whether he becomes a key piece for Barça Atletic or continues to hover between squads.

Alex Walton is already in the group, while Patricio Pacifico remains sidelined as he recovers from an ACL injury, delaying his impact and limiting Belletti’s choices in the short term. To cover gaps and explore alternatives, the coach has even trialled Landry Farre at left-back.

So Oduro leaves a crowded, shifting battle for minutes and walks into a new one in Annecy, where opportunity and responsibility will come without the safety net of a long contract at one of the world’s biggest clubs. The question now is simple: can the move to Ligue 2 turn potential into a fully formed career?