FC Barcelona maintains a firm policy regarding talent trained at La Masia. Those youth players who manage to establish themselves in the elite will be non-transferable until each one asks to leave and arrives at the club's offices with an acceptable offer.
In the case of footballers who do not manage to secure a place in Barça, the idea of the board is to get the maximum possible benefit from their transfers. At least that has been the case in the last two years, a position strengthened after Deco's arrival as sporting director last summer.
Two of the most profitable operations closed so far were the transfers of Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace) and Ez Abde (Betis). Barça received 16.5 million for both (9 M€ for the centre-back, 7 for the winger), although the 'Verdiblanco' striker can still leave a 'pinch' for a future transfer, since the 'culés' retain 20% of his card.
Aléx Valle, seventh youth player to help the 'culés' coffers in the last year
The last of the list of youth players to leave profits to the club was Álex Valle. As planned, Como of Italy exercised the purchase option for 6 million euros that included his loan, matching the amount that Chelsea paid last summer for Marc Guiu.
In the past winter market, Unai Hernández did the same by accepting the offer from Al Ittihad Saudi, with which the 'Azulgrana' team invoiced 5 net 'kilos'. Also in 2024, Estanis Pedrola left 3 M€ in the 'culés' coffers with his transfer to Sampdoria.
The striker, yes, can still generate more income, since the club owns 50% of his rights and, with 'Samp' in Serie B, his departure to another team in the First Division seems certain.
Nico González, the most profitable operation for Barça since Deco's arrival
However, the youth player who has given the best income to Barça in recent years is Nico González. The Galician midfielder left for Porto in the summer of 2023 in exchange for 8.3 million euros fixed, but the club reserved 40% of a future sale.
Last January, Manchester City put 60 'kilos' to take him to England and the Portuguese team, to avoid losing 20.6 M€ of the operation, exercised a clause in Nico's contract that allowed him to acquire an extra 20% of his sports rights.
Finally, Barça received an extra compensation of 12.7 million, raising the earnings for the one from A Coruña to 21.2 'kilos'. González arrived at the 'Azulgrana' academy in 2016 and played one year on loan at Valencia before leaving for Portugal. His transfer, yes, was closed even with Mateu Alemany at the head of the sports management.
The last youth players who have left benefits to Barça
- Nico González (Porto): 21.2 M€
- Chadi Riad (Betis): 9 M€
- Ez Abde (Betis): 7.5 M€
- Marc Guiu (Chelsea): 6 M€
- Álex Valle (Como): 6 M€
- Unai Hernández (Al Ittihad): 5 M€
- Estanis Pedrosa (Sampdoria): 3 M€
Total 'culés' earnings: 57.7 million euros.
In addition, Barça can still generate extra income for up to 14 players with whom the club has reserved sports rights. With this, it can approach 100 'kilos' in earnings, with the transfer of Jean-Clair Todibo to West Ham being the operation that, in the short term, should leave better dividends in the Catalan coffers (8.7 M€).
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