Good news for FC Barcelona: the team has €60 million left in the Financial Fair Play limit. That means that in the winter transfer window, Barça could make a signing or two with the available limit. However, there’s a reason that they may not use it, or at least not all of it, and it relates to the stadium plans.
To recap, the Fair Play limit is not literal money in the bank, but a maximum amount the team can put toward player signings and salary. Generally speaking, it takes into account a player’s
yearly salary plus the amortization cost of the transfer fee. To simplify, the amortization is the cost of the transfer fee divided by the number of years in the contract, for example a €100 million fee on a five-year deal would carry a €20 million amortization each year.
Next season, Barcelona will play half the campaign at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, as they have done in previous years. This is because the Camp Nou roof is going to be installed, and thus the team’s main home will be temporarily closed.
The Olympic Stadium is smaller, and matchday revenues will take a hit in the process. This is an issue because the limit is based on revenue, so Barça’s could take a hit next season. It’s been estimated that the team lost as much as €125 million playing at the smaller stadium in Montjuïc playing one full season there.
Barcelona have the option to transfer the available limit to next season, but they must choose to do so before the winter transfer window opens and only 75% of the €60 million will be applied.
Making a signing in January would also mean having to pay that player’s salary and taking the transfer fee hit for next season.
The good news is once all repairs are finished, the stadium will be earning much more money for the Catalans.
