FC Barcelona has suffered a major setback with the publication of the new sporting squad cost limit (LCPD) by LaLiga. The Blaugrana club's figure falls to 351 million euros, which represents a reduction of 112 million compared to February 2025.
After two consecutive periods of increases, Barça once again sees its spending capacity cut and is forced to compete at the highest level with a much lower cap than its major European rivals.
What is LaLiga's LCPD?
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The sporting squad cost limit includes spending on players, the first team coach, second coach, and physical trainer of the first team (what is called the registrable squad) and also spending on reserve teams, youth academy, and other sections (non-registrable squad). The concepts included in the registrable and non-registrable sporting squad cost limit are: fixed and variable salaries, social security, collective bonuses, acquisition costs (including commissions for agents), and amortization (the purchase amount of players charged annually based on the number of years of the player's contract). SOURCE: LALIGA
Below, we analyze all the salary caps (LCPD) imposed by LaLiga on FC Barcelona since the 2014-2015 season, reviewing the figures and the context.
Historical evolution of Barça's salary cap
FC Barcelona has experienced a dramatic evolution in its Sporting Squad Cost Limit (LCPD) since 2014, going from being the dominant club in LaLiga (2017-2020), through a financial crisis (2021-2022), and falling again to 351.28 million (2025-2026), after the spectacular increase in the (2024-2025) season.
The journey of Fútbol Club Barcelona's salary cap over the last decade reflects a financial roller coaster:
| Season | LCPD (M€) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 347.90 | Pre-crisis, normal level |
| 2015-16 | 421.68 | Slight growth |
| 2016-17 | 390.70 | Small reduction |
| 2017-18 | 507.23 | Strong growth |
| 2018-19 | 632.90 | Pre-COVID all-time high |
| 2019-20 | 671.40 | All-time peak |
| 2020-21 | 382.71 | First reduction due to COVID-19 |
| 2021-22 (Sep) | 97.94 | Severe crisis, Messi's departure |
| 2021-22 (Feb) | -144.35 | Negative limit, 1:4 rule |
| 2022-23 (Sep) | 656.42 | Recovery with economic levers |
| 2022-23 (Feb) | 648.00 | Maintenance after levers |
| 2023-24 (Sep) | 270.00 | Post-levers drop |
| 2023-24 (Feb) | 204.00 | New significant reduction |
| 2024-25 (Sep) | 426.40 | Partial recovery |
| 2024-25 (Feb) | 463.60 | Temporary improvement |
| 2025-26 (Sep) | 351.28 | Drop due to VIP box issues |
SOURCE: LALIGA
2014-2015 Season
€347.90M (initial reference, pre-CRISIS). In the 2014-15 season, FC Barcelona's squad cost limit was 347.9 million euros. This is the first official reference figure.
2015-2016 Season
€421.68M (increase of €73.78M compared to 2014/15). In the 2015-16 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's squad cost limit increased by 73.78 million euros to a total of 421.68 million. It was its first increase in the limit.
2016-2017 Season
€390.70M (reduction of €30.98M compared to 2015/16). In the 2016-17 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's squad cost limit decreased by 30.98 million euros to a total of 390.70 million. It was its first reduction of the limit.
2017-2018 Season
€507.23M (increase of €116.50M compared to 2016/17). In the 2017-18 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's squad cost limit increased by 116.50 million euros to a total of 507.23 million. It was its second increase of the limit.
This increase in the squad cost limit made Barcelona the team that could spend the most in LaLiga, surpassing Real Madrid. The 507.23 million also included the Barcelona B players.
2018-2019 Season
€632.90M (increase of €125.70M compared to 2017/18). In the 2018-19 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's squad cost limit increased by 125.70 million euros to a total of 632.90 million. It was its third increase of the limit.
With this increase in the squad cost limit, FC Barcelona led the LCPD ranking of the clubs competing in the League.
2019-2020 Season
€671.40M (increase of €38.50M compared to 2018/19). In the 2019-20 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's squad cost limit increased by 38.50 million euros to a total of 671.40 million. It was its fourth increase of the limit.
With this increase in the squad cost limit, FC Barcelona broke its historical record and led the LCPD ranking of the clubs competing in the League.
2020-2021 Season
€382.71M (reduction of €288.69M compared to 2019/20). In the 2020-21 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's squad cost limit was reduced by 288.69 million euros to a total of 382.71 million. It was its second reduction of the limit.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused a great loss of income at Barça and that affected the squad cost limit for the 2020-21 season, which plummeted to 382.71 million.
The reduction meant that the club could not offer Lionel Messi a new contract and the Argentine footballer had to leave and sign for Paris Saint-Germain.
According to reports, Messi offered to reduce his salary by half to be able to stay at Barcelona. Even so, that saving was not enough. In addition to losing Messi, Barça also had to loan Antoine Griezmann to Atlético de Madrid.
2021-2022 Season
€97.94M (September 2021: reduction of €284.77M compared to 2020/21). In the 2021-22 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's September squad cost limit was reduced by 284.77 million euros to a total of 97.94 million. It was its third reduction of the limit.
-€144.30M (February 2022: reduction of €242.24M compared to September 2021/22). In the 2021-22 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's February squad cost limit was reduced by 242.24 million euros to a negative total of -144.30 million. It was its fourth reduction of the limit.
The Blaugrana found themselves with a salary cost limit of -€144.353M (compared to the €97M that was established in the summer). Barça suffered a severe crisis, entering a negative limit and forced to operate under the 1:4 rule (you can only spend 25% of what you earn or free up).
2022-2023 Season
€656.40M (September 2022: increase of €800.70M compared to February 2022). In the 2022-23 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's September squad cost limit increased by 800.70 million euros to a total of 654.40 million. It was its fifth increase of the limit.
€648.00M (February 2023: reduction of €8.40M compared to September 2022). In the 2022-23 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's February squad cost limit was reduced by 8.40 million euros to a total of 648.00 million. It was its fifth reduction of the limit.
In the 2022/23 season, the famous 'levers' were activated to be able to raise the squad cost limit. Barça activated four levers for an approximate value of 737.5 million euros, which with capital gains would be around 130 'kilos' more.
The club had no other option than to sell assets to clean up the accounts: 25% of the television rights for the next 25 years and 49% of Barça Studios. After having spoken with CVC - which in 2021 acquired 10% of the La Liga business for 50 years -, Barça sold the same percentage of its television rights to Sixth Street for 25 years.
The first lever left an income of 207.5 million, around 60 'kilos' less than what the Blaugrana club would have earned with CVC with the big difference that the agreement was for half the time.
In July came the second lever, with which Barça repeated the formula of Sixth Street, selling an extra 15% of the TV rights for 330 million. The American investment fund went on to control 40% of the Blaugrana's television rights for the next 25 years.
On August 1, Barça agreed to the sale of 24.5% of Barça Studios to Socios.com in exchange for 100 million, but it was blocked by LaLiga. Luckily, the company Orpheus Media 'rescued' the club by acquiring the remaining part that was for sale from Barça Studios, which was renamed Barca Digital & Entertainment (BDE).
Once the effect of the summer levers had passed, Barcelona, despite the efforts and having reduced its wage bill by about 160 million, was still exceeded by about 130 million and outside the 1/1 rule.
2023-2024 Season
€270.00M (September 2023: reduction of €378.00M compared to February 2023). In the 2023-24 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's September squad cost limit was reduced by 378.00 million euros to a total of 270.00 million. It was its sixth reduction of the limit.
€204.00M (February 2024: reduction of €66.00M compared to September 2023). In the 2023-24 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's February squad cost limit was reduced by 66.00 million euros to a total of 204.00 million. It was its seventh reduction of the limit.
In the 2023-24 season, Barça's squad cost limit plummeted to 270.0 million euros in September and to 204.00 million in February. LaLiga no longer counted the sale of assets to be able to generate 'fair play' and Barça's limit once again suffered the consequences.
2024-2025 Season
€426.40M (September 2024: increase of €222.40M compared to February 2024). In the 2024-25 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's September squad cost limit increased by 222.40 million euros to a total of 426.40 million. It was its sixth increase of the limit.
€463.60M (February 2025: increase of €37.20M compared to September 2024). In the 2024-25 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's February squad cost limit increased by 37.20 million euros to a total of 463.60 million. It was its seventh increase of the limit.
In the 2024-25 season, Barça's squad cost limit increased to 426.4 million euros in September and to 463.60 million in February. The increase was thanks to the drastic reduction of the squad's wage bill and the new sponsorship contracts, especially Nike (1.7 billion until 2038).
2025-2026 Season
€351.28M (September 2025: reduction of €112.32M compared to February 2025). In the 2025-26 season, Fútbol Club Barcelona's September squad cost limit was reduced by 112.32 million euros to a total of 351.28 million. It was its eighth reduction of the limit.
In the 2025-26 season, Barça's LCPD in September plummeted again to 351.28 million euros. After the 25/26 winter market, the Blaugrana club increased its salary limit by 37 million, to 463.6 million.
However, after the operations carried out this summer, the Catalan team has seen its squad cost limit decrease by 112 million (351.28), and the main explanation is that the VIP boxes of the new Spotify Camp Nou could not be computed.
The reasons for the latest reduction of Barcelona's LCPD
La Liga has pointed to three main factors to explain the significant and unexpected new reduction in Barça's limit in September 2025:
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VIP Boxes: the auditors did not validate the 100 million anticipated from the sale of premium seats in the new Spotify Camp Nou.
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Stadium under construction: the lack of income from not playing at the Camp Nou amounts to between 70 and 80 million per season.
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Operating expenses: a level of costs higher than the average of consolidated revenues.
After analyzing the explanations offered by LaLiga, it is inevitable not to fully understand the application of the LCPD regulations. The absence of detailed information and official figures for each concept generates confusion and many doubts.
Most fans find it difficult to understand that, after increasing the Fútbol Club Barcelona squad cost limit to €463M in February, just six months later it is reduced by 112 million and has been set at 351 million.
This past season Barça has once again reduced the squad's wage bill, signed the new contract with Nike, broken the record for revenue from ticket sales at Montjuïc, led the television audiences, won three titles (League, Cup and Super Cup) and, in addition, has obtained million-dollar income in the Champions League after reaching the semi-finals.
However, the reality is that all these sporting and economic achievements have not been enough even for Barça to maintain its previous squad cost limit.
FCBN Conclusion
In just over a decade, Fútbol Club Barcelona has gone from comfortably leading LaLiga's salary cap to fighting to maintain competitiveness under severe restrictions.
The drop to 351 million euros reflects the structural challenges that Fútbol Club Barcelona still has to resolve to stabilize its accounts and recover its capacity for sporting investment.
But, the history of LCPD salary limits applied by LaLiga also reflects a significant lack of transparency. The data and information provided is clearly insufficient and does not help to understand the application of the rule and its restrictions.