Barça spend 174m in Laporta-era record to brace for leaner years | OneFootball

Barcelona have set a Laporta-era transfer record, committing 174m across seven signings, with further add-ons possible, to guard against leaner seasons. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, João Cancelo made an eighth arrival on a free.

The outlay still sits well below the Bartomeu splurges of 325m in 2017-18 and 250m in 2019-20. Laporta’s previous 159m build delivered the 2022-23 Liga title and the Spanish Supercopa.

A stronger squad was required to withstand the Montjuïc exile, when revenues slumped as Lluís Companys held roughly half Camp Nou’s capacity. Financial fair play pressures saw renewals pushed from June to September to roll into the next season.

All players are now registered, with Gabriel Jesus cleared at 23:45 on Monday, 15 minutes before the window closed. Brian Fariñas, 20, has been given the number 4 vacated by Ronald Araujo.

The aim is to ensure Hansi Flick’s side do not thin out next season, with this summer’s business front-loading the squad. Last year’s modest 29m still brought in title-level goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

This window added Dominik Livakovic for goalkeeping cover and Rodrigo Hernández for 60m to bolster midfield after Marc Casadó’s exit. Five forwards have arrived to offset the goals once guaranteed by Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

Anthony Gordon cost 70m, the 14th-priciest deal of the window and Laporta’s largest. Karim Adeyemi joined from Borussia Dortmund for far less than the 105m plus add-ons once paid for Ousmane Dembélé, while Gabriel Jesus cost 10m, around a tenth of Atlético’s price for Julián. Jesse Bissiwu at 8.5m and Hamza Abdelkarim at 1.5m step up between first team and B, and Cancelo stays for nothing.

Camp Nou hosts the full campaign, with revenues rising as sections of the third tier open, hospitality levels completed and the museum and store relocate. Next league season will start at Montjuïc, then in summer 2027 a roof canopy installation of at least four months will hit income as Espai Barça repayments begin and an extended credit line is sought at the next Members’ Assembly.

Barcelona’s spend trails Real Madrid’s 225m, plus 15m for José Mourinho, making them La Liga’s most lavish. The big two’s 414m combined is still shy of Manchester City’s 526m as they prepare for the post Guardiola era.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”