Barcelona make historic bid for MLS wonderkid set to star at World Cup

Updated: 13 Jun 2026 15:26 BST | 5 min read

Hansi Flick, Lucas Herrington, Barcelona — © IMAGO

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Barcelona have made a "historic" bid for Colorado Rapids and Australia defender Lucas Herrington.

Article continues under the video

The 18-year-old has been one of the biggest revelations in Major League Soccer so far in 2026, earning him a spot on the Socceroos' World Cup roster. Herrington could feature for his country against Turkey this weekend, and he may even be a starter.

Domestically, he has played every single minute for the Rapids in MLS, producing several assured performances in a team that has struggled for consistency. He has only been with the franchise since January, but he is already one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Eyebrows were raised when Herrington opted to move to the States from Brisbane Roar for a fee of €450,000 rather than pursue European opportunities. There was concrete interest in him, but he decided that a move to MLS would be the best next step for his nascent career.

That was a shrewd decision, as he joined a team that perfectly suits his skill set. Rapids coach Matt Wells is uncompromising in his desire to have his team play out from the back, which is ideal for Herrington because he is an exceptional passer of the ball.

Barcelona make historic bid

The Rapids have given Herrington the platform to show off his sky-high potential, and they are set to be handsomely rewarded for it. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Barcelona have submitted a "historic" bid for the 18-year-old.

The exact value of the bid was not disclosed, but what we do know is that it was rebuffed by the Rapids as it fell short of their valuation of Herrington. The timing, of course, also matters.

Header hero Herrington 🇦🇺 #Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/I24ny4mTyt
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) February 15, 2026

The Rapids would have been foolish to accept an offer for the wonderkid ahead of his debut at the World Cup, which, as we all know, is the greatest stage of them all when it comes to inflating the values of players.

Barcelona were the first side to act on their interest in Herrington, but more clubs are set to follow suit this summer - in fact, some suitors were prepared to buy him in January before he had even stepped foot on a pitch for the Rapids.

Everton and West Ham are among the teams credited with an interest. It is a question of when, not if, Herrington will be sold by the Rapids for big money. Anything other than a club-record sale would be shocking, given that their current record stands at just €7 million.

The defender may become the most expensive Australian of all time, which is a record currently held by Harry Souttar courtesy of his €17m move from Stoke City to Leicester off the back of his performances at the 2022 World Cup.

© SciSports/FootballTransfers - Lucas Herrington compared to other MLS defenders

Had the Rapids accepted Barcelona's bid, Herrington would have become the first-ever Australian to play for the Blaugrana, male or female. In fact, the only previous known offer made by the club for an Australian came for Leeds star Harry Kewell all the way back in 2003.

Perhaps the most incredible part of this Herrington story is just how badly his former club, Brisbane Roar, fumbled a massive payday. Not only did they sell him for just €450,000, but they also recently agreed to waive their 20% sell-on clause in exchange for an additional €340,000 (A$560,000) from the Rapids.

They could have potentially received millions for Herrington. Now, they will be left empty-handed when he inevitably gets his big European move - be it to Barcelona or elsewhere.

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•Google Play

•App Store