Barcelona expect no problems in registering €25 million imminent new sigining

Barcelona are on the brink of finalising the signing of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, but with the club still muddling through financial waters, questions naturally arise as to how they plan to register their new acquisition within La Liga’s financial fair play regulations. 

However, as SPORT reports, Barcelona appear to have already calculated a pathway to ensure Garcia’s registration.

Despite the €25 million buyout clause to be paid to Espanyol in a lump sum, that fee will not hit Barça’s wage bill all at once. Instead, as is customary in football accounting, the cost will be amortised over the five years of Garcia’s contract. 

That means only €5 million per season will count toward the salary cap. When combined with the player’s gross salary, expected to be around €6 million annually, Barcelona are looking at just over €10 million that needs to be accounted for this summer.

How will Barcelona register Garcia?

The answer lies in several key departures. The club has essentially covered Garcia’s cost through three operations. 

The expected departure of Ansu Fati, which frees up a significant chunk of salary. The sale of Alex Valle to Como. The club’s sell-on clause from Jean-Clair Todibo’s transfer which is about to bring in a healthy windfall.

Combined, these three moves are projected to more than cover the financial space needed to register Garcia and may even leave a small surplus.

Importantly, Barça have promised Garcia and his camp that they will use this specific financial margin for his registration. In other words, he has been prioritised over other incoming players. 

What about other signings?

Any future arrivals will depend on additional savings, either through further sales or renewed contracts on reduced terms. 

Barcelona are also staying within the 1:1 rule, meaning every euro saved or earned through a sale can be reinvested directly into the squad.

Though there had been some speculation about the potential exit of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the latest reports suggest the German goalkeeper is not looking to leave the club. That means Barcelona will keep both Garcia and Ter Stegen in the squad, at least for now. 

However, should the club receive a sizeable offer later in the window, Ter Stegen’s exit could further ease financial pressure and offer more flexibility for other signings.