Barcelona confirm Oriol Romeu has left club by mutual agreement | OneFootball

Barcelona have confirmed that Oriol Romeu has left the club following the termination of his contract during the summer transfer window.

The 33-year-old midfielder, who came through La Masia before making his senior debut under manager Pep Guardiola, rejoined Barcelona last summer after a successful spell at Girona.

His second stint at the Camp Nou was short-lived, and the club have now opted to cancel his deal by mutual agreement.

Romeu initially left Barcelona in 2011 to join Chelsea, but he struggled for opportunities and was loaned out to Valencia and Stuttgart.

He moved to Southampton in 2015, becoming a mainstay in midfield across seven seasons and amassing more than 250 appearances for the club.

He returned to Spain in 2022 to play for Girona, impressing enough in his single campaign there to convince Barcelona to bring him back in 2023.

Injuries disrupted his first season back in Barcelona, although he still made 39 appearances in all competitions, including 28 in La Liga.

He returned to Girona on loan last season, featuring in 31 matches. That spell effectively marked the end of his Barcelona comeback, with the club and player now parting ways.

The Catalan giants acknowledged Romeu’s professionalism and thanked him for his commitment before confirming his departure.

The move also carries financial implications, as Barcelona continue to work within La Liga’s strict salary limits.

The termination of Romeu’s contract frees up space on the wage bill, allowing the club to register new signings.

While the savings from Romeu’s departure are modest, they contributed to ensuring the squad registration process was completed on time.

Where the veteran midfielder goes next remains uncertain, but he leaves Barcelona with over a decade of top-level experience behind him.