Barça's imminent return to the 1:1 rule and its effect on the culé market

Published New:2/07/2025 - 18:01h

Updated New:2/07/2025 - 18:01h

Javier Tebas has informed Barça of their imminent return to the 1:1 rule. Although the club is still over its salary margin, this step is key to operating normally in the market

The board of FC Barcelona knows that its return to the 1:1 rule of the 'Financial Fair Play of LaLiga is imminent. The president of the employers, Javier Tebas, has informed the club that, shortly, it will have the possibility of operating without restrictions in the market, investing each euro computed as income in signings, if it so wishes.

The last time Barça operated in a market under the 1:1 rule was in the summer of 2019. That year, the culés closed 6 transfers, with Antoine Griezmann (120 M€) and Frenkie de Jong (86 M€) being the highest outlays. Neto Murara (26 M€) and Pedri González (23 M€) also arrived, along with Junior Firpo (20 M€) and Marc Cucurellla (4 M€).

In 2025, Barça has already signed Joan García for 25 'kilos' and is very close to paying Nico Williams' clause (58 million). Operating under the 1:1 rule, the club will be able to address other incorporations without problems, for example that of a left back (Alejandro Grimaldo) and another forward (Roony Bardghji).

The VIP seats of the Camp Nou, the key to returning to the 1:1 rule

This summer, the return to 1:1 will be possible thanks to the authorization of the 100 million euros that two investors will pay for the rights to exploit 475 VIP seats in the new Spotify Camp Nou. The amount is on behalf of New Era Visionary Group (United Arab Emirates, 70 M€ for 350 seats) and Fortia Advisor Limited (Qatar, 30 M€ for 125 seats).

The operation was already authorized by LaLiga, but Barça's new auditor, Crowe Spain, conditioned the sale to the construction and operability of the marketed boxes. A requirement with which the club has complied in a timely manner, enabling the work before the end of May.

In total, the VIP area of the new culé temple will contribute some 335 million to the club's coffers through the sale of 3,700 seats and hospitality services. The VVIP suites, premium and loge seats, together with the boxes, are already sold out, that is, 1,740 seats. Through these revenues, the club will clean up its accounts with 'Fair Play' financial.

Tebas insists: Barça still does not have 1:1, but it will soon

"Hopefully they will be as soon as possible, as I wish all clubs to be. But as I always say, FC Barcelona knows what it has to do to be in the 1:1 rule because they already know the regulatory rules well", explained the LaLiga president in a recent interview with 'EFE'.

In addition, he assured that, although the regulations are complex, all LaLiga clubs have financial experts to adapt to 'Fair Play'. "Each team must have the capacity to sign. If, for example, they want to sign players for 100 million, they will have to incorporate income for 100 million. Let everyone do their sums and subtractions", added Javier Tebas.

In that sense, he warned the azulgrana team about future incorporations. "What we will do, as we have always done, is that Barça will have to comply with the rules to incorporate players, be it Nico Williams, Haaland, Messi... whoever. And we are not going to change anything", said the president of LaLiga.

Releasing salary mass, Barça's other pending challenge

At the moment, Barça needs to enter around 60 million net to its coffers to return to the 1:1 rule. Through the 100 'kilos' derived from the sale of the 475 VIP seats will be enough to achieve it.

Afterwards, it will be necessary to balance the salary mass with the departure of at least 7 discards, either through assignment, sale or termination of contract. The players on the way out, for now, are:

Oriol Romeu: the midfielder returned from his assignment to Girona, but does not count for Hansi Flick. He could leave for a transfer close to 3M€ or with a letter of freedom.
Iñaki Peña: the goalkeeper's contract ends in 2026 and can leave about 10 M€ in cash with his sale to another LaLiga club.
Marc-André ter Stegen: the German has lost the title due to the signing of Joan García. His case is the most complex, since the '1' is not willing to leave. The club prioritizes its immediate sale, although an assignment is also feasible.
Héctor Fort: the right back will also be a free agent in 2026 and could renew to leave on loan. Jules Koundé is untouchable on the right side and Flick does not trust him as a replacement for the Gaul.
Andreas Christensen: the Dane is a piece well valued by the coaching staff, but the squad has 5 central defenders and the '15' is the logical discard, as his contract ends in 2026 and he comes from a whole year out due to injury. His sale can be closed for less than 15 M€.
Pablo Torre: the Cantabrian also enters his last year of contract and has no place in the squad, due to the tough competition for the position of midfielder. Mallorca had his signing well on track, but Ajax also wants him. His sale can be around 10 M€.
Pau Víctor: the striker has a contract until 2029 and aims to leave on loan to another LaLiga club. With Lewandowski and Ferran in the squad, it is very difficult for the Catalan to have quality minutes.