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Julia Torres has changed clubs, but her arrival at Barcelona cannot be understood without looking at the path she followed at Sevilla.
Within a few years, the Seville-born defender progressed from the academy to the first team. While still completing her development, she began competing in Liga F and receiving call-ups to Spain squads above her age group.
Her transfer opens a new chapter. The previous one explains how she reached it.
From SAM-CAM to the first team
Torres joined Sevilla from CD SAM-CAM Dos Hermanas. She progressed through the club’s academy before becoming involved with the first team during the 2024/25 season.
She made her debut against Espanyol in a Sevilla victory and ended that campaign with three appearances. The following season, she made eight appearances in total, including two Liga F starts.
Those numbers remain modest when compared with those of an established player. For a defender born in 2009, they carry a different meaning.
Julia began competing with the first team before completing her development. She did not have to finish every stage before being asked to take on the next one.
Progressing through the age groups
Her rise was also reflected at international level.
During the past season, she was called up by Spain at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-20 level. She took part in the Under-17 World Cup before earning a place at the Women’s Under-19 EURO.
At the tournament, David Aznar has used her at left-back despite her more familiar position being in central defence. She started the opening match against Switzerland and returned to the left side for the semi-final against Sweden.
The next step
Barcelona have signed a defender who still has a significant part of her development ahead of her, but who already knows the demands of professional and international football.
Her arrival coincides with the end of Mapi León’s time at the club and offers a measure of how much the market has changed. When the Aragón-born defender joined from Atlético Madrid in 2017, the €50,000 fee made her the first Spanish woman footballer to move for a transfer fee.
Nine years later, AS has reported that the deal for Julia Torres could rise to €300,000 if the agreed objectives are met. If that figure is reached, it would represent a record transfer between Spanish clubs, although neither club has disclosed the fee.
The parallel also extends to the pitch. Mapi played at left-back before establishing herself in central defence; Julia arrives as a centre-back after showing with Spain that she can also operate on the left. That does not mean she is expected to replace her, but Barcelona are beginning a new chapter with another defender whose versatility may prove valuable.
Torres arrives after developing at Sevilla, breaking into the first team and progressing rapidly through Spain’s youth sides. She is not a finished player, nor does she need to be presented as one.
Her final position can wait. Julia Torres is already learning to play beyond her years.