Is the start of LaLiga in danger? Barcelona only has 18 players registered

Registrations are an absolute priority for FC Barcelona in the week leading up to the start of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26. With five days to go until the first match of the season, at Son Moix against Mallorca, the 'azulgrana' team only has 18 players available in the first team. As for goalkeepers, in fact, Iñaki Peña is the only usable option.

With Marc-André ter Stegen out due to injury, the player from Alicante is the only goalkeeper with a first-team contract. Diego Kochen would be the other alternative, but the American still has a reserve team contract. Both Joan García, signed this summer, and Wojciech Szczesny, renewed in July, still do not have a federative license to play.

In that sense, Barça is working against the clock to resolve, at least, the registration of the '1' this week. The Catalan goalkeeper was the player with the most minutes in the preseason (225), starting in the three friendlies of the Asian tour and the Joan Gamper Trophy, where he played all 90 minutes.

LaLiga updates the departures of Iñigo and Ansu in Barça's squad

On Monday, LaLiga updated the 'azulgrana' squad with two confirmed departures in recent weeks. Ansu Fati, loaned to Monaco on July 1, along with Iñigo Martínez, released by the club to sign for 'free' for the Saudi Al Nassr, were officially unregistered in the 'azulgrana' team.

Both players still appeared available, although without a number. Iñigo's '5' went to Pau Cubarsí, while the '10' now shines on the back of Lamine Yamal. Those who had been 'erased' previously were Pau Víctor and Pablo Torre.

The player from Cantabria was transferred to Mallorca in exchange for 5 million net, while the Catalan striker left 12 'kilos' net in the 'culé' coffers with his move to Sporting Braga. Pablo, in principle, should be ready for his debut against Barça next Saturday. Pau, on Sunday, debuted with a goal in the Portuguese league. 

How many Barça players are waiting for their registration?

At the moment, a total of seven players from the 'culé' squad are waiting for their registration in the first team. Of these, two can play without problems even with a reserve team contract, such as Marc Bernal and Héctor Fort. Roony Bardghji can also play with a Barça Atlètic contract, but his signing has not yet been approved by LaLiga.

On the other hand, Marcus Rashford and Joan García can only play with a first-team license. The same goes for Szczesny and Gerard Martín, the latter a reserve team player until last season. The 23-year-old defender has a contract until 2028 and must now receive a first-team number.

Therefore, they are still waiting for their registration:

1. Joan García
2. Marcus Rashford
3. Roony Bardghji
4. Wojciech Szczesny
5. Gerard Martín
6. Héctor Fort
7. Marc Bernal

The only one of the seven with serious options to leave in the final stretch of the summer market is Fort. The full-back only played 47 minutes in the four preseason friendlies and, in the Gamper, he stayed on the bench. 

In the 24/25 season, Dani Olmo had to wait until the third matchday of La Liga to be registered. The same happened in 2022 with Jules Koundé, while in 23/24 the same happened with Iñigo Martínez. Will the same happen this year with Rashford?

The keys for FC Barcelona to resolve the pending registrations

Despite the complex situation with the registration issue, the FC Barcelona board maintains full confidence in leaving everything resolved this week. The keys to returning to the 1:1 rule, freeing up salary margin and updating all pending contracts basically involve two operations:

1. Receive authorization from LaLiga for Ter Stegen's long-term absence. If the Medical Commission confirms that the German will be out for five months or more, the club will free up 80% of his gross salary, set at around 14 million euros this season.

2. Compute the income of 100 million euros derived from the sale of the commercial exploitation rights of 475 VIP seats in the new Spotify Camp Nou. The club has already enabled the seats in the Estadi Johan Cruyff for the Gamper and, in the case of the 'culé' temple, they will also be available from the fourth matchday of La Liga, against Valencia. This is provided that the City Council authorizes the opening of the 'culé' temple with a partial capacity of 27,000 spectators. With this income, it will be enough to operate in the 1:1 in the final stretch of the market.