Barcelona faces $1B in pending debts for signings like Raphinha and Vitor Roque

Barcelona released a financial report exposing debts of 159 million euros, equivalent to $1 billion, owed to clubs for player signings. The shareholders’ assembly took place on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, highlighting obligations accumulated over recent years. President Joan Laporta manages the club amid LaLiga’s financial fair play restrictions.

Of this total, 140 million euros must be settled by June 2026, the end of the European season. The debts stem from deals closed since 2022, including transfers of players no longer with the squad. The situation reflects challenges in managing revenue, despite an annual turnover close to 1 billion euros.

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Athletico-PR stands out as the main Brazilian creditor, with 17.237 million euros pending from Vitor Roque’s 2023 transfer. The striker was sold to Palmeiras for 25 million euros in January 2025, but the original amounts remain unpaid.

Other Brazilian-related debts include Betis, awaiting 892,000 euros for Emerson Royal, who left Barcelona and played for Tottenham and Milan.

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Debts with major European clubs

Leeds United leads the creditors, with 41.958 million euros owed for Raphinha’s 2022 signing. The Brazilian forward remains in the squad and contributes goals this season. RB Leipzig demands 33.749 million euros for Dani Olmo, a 2024 signing facing LaLiga registration issues due to the club’s finances.

Sevilla awaits 24.524 million euros for Jules Koundé, a key defender under Hansi Flick. These short-term amounts strain the club’s cash flow and limit new signings.

Brazilian players’ cases

Vitor Roque accounts for the largest debt to Brazil, with 17.237 million euros owed to Athletico-PR. The deal included variables yet to be triggered. Emerson Royal generates a 892,000-euro debt to Betis, following a brief stint at Barcelona before moving to Flamengo and other clubs.

These cases highlight the impact of South American transfers on the club’s balance sheet. Barcelona retained a sell-on clause in Roque’s transfer to Palmeiras, but it does not affect the original payment.

Details of 2022 debts

The 2022 summer window concentrated much of the obligations, with 78 million euros pending for Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Koundé. Bayern Munich awaits 10.688 million euros for the Polish striker. Manchester City demands 13.295 million euros for Ferran Torres, signed in 2021. Valencia adds 455,000 euros for another installment related to Torres.

Bayern, Leeds, and Sevilla share the largest portions, totaling over 77 million euros. These deals boosted the squad but stretched payments over years.

Smaller amounts and solidarity mechanisms

• Girona: 1.25 million euros for Pau Victor, a 2024 signing.
• CPF Africa Foot: 1.16 million euros for Ibrahim Diarra.
• Bordeaux: 359,000 euros for Koundé.
• Vitória de Guimarães: 242,000 euros for Raphinha.

These stem from FIFA’s training and solidarity clauses. Benfica awaits 190,000 euros for Kika Nazareth, a women’s team player. Osasuna expects 183,000 euros for Abde, a former youth player. Polish clubs like MKS Varsovia (169,000 euros) and Lech Poznán (119,000 euros) claim amounts from Lewandowski’s early career.

Financial offsets in Barcelona’s favor

Porto owes 6.7 million euros for Nico González’s prior transfer. The midfielder recently returned to Brazil. Al Ahli, from Saudi Arabia, has a 4.1 million euro debt for Franck Kessié. Shakhtar Donetsk owes 3.1 million euros related to Marlon, a Brazilian defender. These receivables total 64.1 million euros, offsetting part of the outflows. LaLiga contributes 12 million euros in market adjustments.

Strategies for debt settlement

The board plans asset sales to cover the 140 million euros due short-term. Deals with Nike and Spotify generate extra revenue. The June 2025 report shows a 90 million euro debt reduction, but transfer debts remain a focus. Laporta negotiates refinancing to avoid FIFA sanctions on new player registrations. The assembly approved the balance, emphasizing sustainability for the 2025/2026 season.