FC BARCELONA SIGNINGS 2025
Lenglet and Barça negotiate contract termination to facilitate his signing for Atlético
Published New:31/05/2025 - 12:32h
Updated New:31/05/2025 - 12:32h
The French defender could be released in the coming days; the Azulgrana club seeks to lighten the wage bill and gain room for maneuver in the summer market.
Clement Lenglet and FC Barcelona are in advanced negotiations to terminate the contract that binds the French center-back to the club until June 2026, with the aim of him being able to sign freely for Atlético de Madrid.
The operation would allow the Azulgranas to face the 2025 transfer market by freeing up a high-cost salary, in a context marked by the limitations of LaLiga's Financial Fair Play.
Lenglet seeks to disassociate himself from Barça after loans and without a place in the squad
The player, who has been on loan for the last two seasons —first at Tottenham and then at Atlético de Madrid—, is not in the sporting plans of Hansi Flick. His high salary, estimated at 16 million euros gross per year, has been the main obstacle to a definitive exit in previous windows.
That salary is part of one of the last renewals promoted by Josep Maria Bartomeu during the pandemic, with extended contracts and deferred payments to face the economic crisis. A strategy that today complicates the departure of players without impact on the first team.
Now, with only one year remaining on his contract, both parties are exploring formulas to agree on an exit that does not involve excessive compensation for the club, but that allows the player to sign for Atlético definitively.
Atlético wants to have Lenglet for the Club World Cup
Atlético de Madrid highly values Lenglet's performance during his loan last season and wants to incorporate him as soon as possible. According to sources close to the operation, the Rojiblanco club hopes to have the French center-back to compete in the 2025 Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States in the coming weeks.
Although his participation in the tournament is not at risk —the loan agreement already included this possibility—, both the player and the two clubs involved want to close the transfer before the start of the championship.
Barça needs to free up salary mass ahead of the summer market
The operation is also strategic for FC Barcelona, which needs to free up salary mass urgently. The Azulgrana sports management, headed by Deco, seeks to gain room to register new players and address key renewals such as that of Lamine Yamal, in addition to facing possible signings.
Reducing the 16 million gross that Lenglet still represents in the accounts would allow the club to improve its position regarding LaLiga's economic control. Therefore, in the offices of the Camp Nou, it is considered a priority to close this chapter as soon as possible.
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