FC Barcelona is about to sign one of the most massive “exit deals”, a real revolution. Up to fifteen members of the first team and the reserve team have left the club so far this summer, and it is not ruled out that there could be more! The list is made up of departures that were already a given, but also some that, a priori, were not in the plans at this stage of the market.
FC Barcelona's 15 absences in 2024
In economic terms, beyond the salary savings and the possible improvement of fair play, the income has been minimal considering the large number of movements that have taken place. Only the transfers of Estanis Pedrola (3), Chadi Riad (9), Marc Guiu (6), Mika Faye (10.3) and Julián Araujo (10), have left cash income, 38.3 million euros between the four players.
Although to this figure we should add 30% from a possible sale of Faye, 50% of Estanis and another percentage of ownership that remains with Sergiño Dest. Lenglet, Vitor Roque, Oriol Romeu and Alex Valle went out on loan and only generated salary savings. Gündogan was transferred as a free agent and Sergiño Dest too, at zero cost. Sergio Roberto and Marcos Alonso finished their contracts and were not renewed and the “Joaos”, Cancelo and Félix, ended their respective loans.
Lenglet goes on loan to Atlético
FC Barcelona have officially signed Clément Lenglet to Atlético de Madrid on loan for one season, until 30 June 2025. The loan does not include a purchase option and “Cholo” Simeone's team will take over a significant part of the contract. Lenglet had extended his contract with Barcelona until 2027, thus distributing his contract and the amortisation over those years with the aim of bringing the Catalan team closer to complying with LaLiga's financial fair play.
This is the third consecutive loan for the French centre-back, who in the previous two seasons played in the Premier League: first at Tottenham and then at Aston Villa. Before going out on loan, Lenglet had played four seasons at Barça.
Vitor Roque will play for Betis
Barça also confirmed the loan of Vitor Roque to Betis until 2025, with the option to extend the loan for another season, until 2026. The Betis club will have a non-obligatory right of purchase and will take charge of the entire salary of the Brazilian striker. Vitor Roque arrived at Barcelona in the last winter transfer market from Atlético Paranaense in exchange for 30 million euros plus variables.
Gündogan leaves FC Barcelona to return to City
The short story between Ilkay Gündogan and FC Barcelona came to a surprising end. After a long summer in which he was linked to several rumours about his possible departure, the German decided to change his surroundings. Barça made official the departure of Gündogan to Manchester City as a free agent, at zero cost, with a contract for one season plus an optional one.
In this way, 'Gündo' put an end to his brief journey at the Spotify Camp Nou. The German landed in the summer of 2023 at the Blaugrana team as a free agent, being the star reinforcement of that transfer market.
Sergi Roberto's contract ended and Barça did not renew it
Barcelona decided not to renew his contract, which ended on June 30, putting an end to his time at the club. After 18 years at FC Barcelona, where 14 of them were as a first team player, Sergi Roberto said goodbye to the club with 25 titles in his trophy cabinet and having worn the Barça shirt in 373 matches.
Oriol Romeu, loaned to Girona
Oriol Romeu was loaned to Girona until June 30, 2025, with no mandatory purchase option. The 32-year-old midfielder understood that he would not have much of a role this season with Hansi Flick on the bench and opted to return to Girona again to try to recover the level he showed in the 2022/23 season, where he was one of the best '5' in LaLiga.
Marcos Alonso's contract ends
His departure was an open secret, left back Marcos Alonso would not continue at Barcelona after his contract ended on June 30. The Catalan club made the announcement through a statement, informing that his contract would not be renewed, putting an end to his time at the culé team.
Sergiño Dest's transfer to PSV
At the end of June, FC Barcelona completed their first move of the transfer market with the departure of Sergiño Dest. After a season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, the United States international was transferred permanently to the Dutch side. PSV Eindhoven paid nothing to FC Barcelona for the transfer and the Catalans only benefited from a percentage in case of a future sale and the savings on his salary.
The 23-year-old footballer had a contract with the Catalan side until June 30, 2026 and had been on two consecutive loans, to AC Milan (2022/2023) and PSV last season.
Joao Felix signed for Chelsea
The 24-year-old forward did not join FC Barcelona for the second year in a row. He eventually signed for Chelsea, where he was on loan for the second half of the 2022/23 season, and has now joined as a full-time player until 2031.
Joao Cancelo, further away from Barcelona than ever
Joao Cancelo's future does not seem to be at Barça, Manchester City have no intention of loaning him out again, despite the defender wanting to play for Hansi Flick's team. The English team has other plans and it is likely that he will end up signing for a team in the Saudi Pro League before August 30th.
Mika Faye transferred to Rennes
Faye's transfer to Rennes was confirmed by the Catalan club last Sunday. The Senegalese defender left in exchange for 10.3 million euros, 30% of a possible future sale and also the possibility of buying back the player for 25 million euros. Mika Faye arrived at Barça Atlètic last season in exchange for one and a half million euros. He played 33 games with the Barça reserve team, but finally he left without having made his debut with the first team in an official match.
Transfer of Julián Araujo to Bournemouth
Julián Araujo has headed to the Premier League after the Cherries paid 10 million euros for his signing. The 23-year-old full-back signed a five-year deal in a deal that included neither a buy-back clause nor a percentage of ownership for Barça in the event of a future sale of the player.
Marc Guiu left for Chelsea for 6 million
FC Barcelona were unable to prevent the departure of Marc Guiu, one of the great prospects of the Barça youth academy who, at 18 years of age, embarked on a new adventure at Chelsea. The London club paid the release clause of 6 million euros to take him to Stamford Bridge.
Chadi Riad was transferred to the Premier
Barça was one of the biggest beneficiaries of Chadi Riad's transfer to Crystal Palace. The Blaugrana club received nine million euros for 50% of the sale of the centre-back. The Blaugranas loaned the centre-back to Betis with a purchase option of around 3 million euros, keeping 50% of the transfer of a player who was sold for around 15 million euros plus variables.
Estanis Pedrola left for Sampdoria
After fulfilling the objective of the clause included in his contract, playing 10 games with the Italian team, Estanis became the property of Sampdoria after making a payment of three million euros to FC Barcelona. On the other hand, the Catalans maintain a buy-back option for seven million euros, valid until 2025, and retain 50% of the transfer rights in the event of a possible future sale of the player.
Alex Valle, loaned to Celtic after renewing his contract with Barça
Laporta and Hansi Flick came to the conclusion that the best decision was to renew Alex Valle's contract and send him on loan to Celtic Glasgow. The Catalans do not want to lose sight of the 20-year-old, although they want him to accumulate minutes. A condition that the Scots could meet, as well as the full payment of his contract during this season, which reached 1.5 million euros.