Barcelona Demands FFP Exemption For Women’s Squad

Barcelona have asked LaLiga – the top division in men’s football – to change financial fair play (FFP) rules with a request surrounding the club’s women’s team.

The Spanish club has battled financial issues over the past five years and still holds debts exceeding €1.2bn (£1bn).

This has caused issues for the men’s side, who struggled in their efforts to register 2024 summer signings Dani Olmo and Pau Victor

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona have made a ‘historic demand’ surrounding the women’s team, in the latest development to the club’s financial saga.

Barcelona ask LaLiga to discount women’s football team budget from FFP
Barcelona have asked LaLiga to change FFP rules by separating the budgets from their women’s and youth teams from the men’s first team.

LaLiga currently accounts for the budgets of women’s and youth teams within financial restrictions alongside its men’s side.

This means that any signing the Barcelona women’s team makes plays into the budget of the men’s side, therefore potentially affecting what signings the women’s side can or cannot make.

Barcelona will be eager to improve the side after losing out in the final of the Women’s Champions League to Arsenal last month. It prevented the Spanish side from completing a three-peat after winning the trophy in 2023 and 2024.

If Barcelona can convince LaLiga to change the current rules, it could potentially give both the men’s and women’s sides more wiggle room in the transfer market in the future.

Mundo Deportivo report that LaLiga president Javier Tebas has taken the request under consideration.

However, any changes would likely not be applied before the 2025-26 season.

Barcelona Women busy in transfer market
Barcelona Women have been active in the transfer market, which could have a knock-on affect for the men’s side in terms of meeting FFP rules.

Manchester City’s versatile player Laia Aleixandri is set to join the club on a free transfer at the end of her contract.

Barcelona are also in the race to sign Swedish starlet Felicia Schroder from BK Hacken.

The 18-year-old is one of the brightest young talents in European football, with Chelsea also interested in her signature.

There are also expected to be some departures which could force Barcelona into making more signings.

Ingrid Engen has already announced she will leave the club. Lyon and London City Lionesses are among the clubs interested in signing the Norwegian international.

The futures of young players Bruna Vilamala, Lucía Corrales, Giulia Dragoni, and Martina Fernandez.

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