How much have Barcelona spent on transfers so far this summer?
Cameron Smith
- 2 Sept 2022 15:51 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona completed one of the most remarkable transfer windows in memory as they splashed €153 million in the summer of 2022.
It was not so much the volume of spending that Barca undertook - five Premier League clubs, for instance, outspent them - it was more the context in which it was done.
Barcelona are skint, going into the summer window debts surpassing €1 billion. However, they sacrificed future income for immediate cash, having sold 25% of their La Liga TV rights for the next 25 years, plus a huge chunk of their merchandising arm.
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As a result of their influx of money, the Blaugrana have decided to spend it on big-name stars rather than repay their debt, and this has seen them conclude a star-studded window that could only have been better had they got their wish to sign Bernardo Silva in the closing days.
Three of their new acquisitions, however, didn't cost a transfer fee. Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie arrived at Camp Nou on free transfers following the expiration of their contracts at Chelsea and AC Milan respectively.
Both players have put pen to paper on a four-year deal, meaning they are contracted to the club until 2026.
Meanwhile, Hector Bellerin had his contract terminated at Arsenal so he could sign with boyhood club Barca.
In addition to the signings of Bellerin, Christensen and Kessie, Barcelona have also signed three superstars for €45m or more. The Blaugrana have managed to complete deals for long-term targets, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski as well as Sevilla defender Jules Kounde.
Raphinha has been signed for €58m from Leeds United after the Brazilian rejected moves to both Arsenal and Chelsea in order to sign for Barcelona. He scored 10 Premier League goals in the 2021/22 season and will provide competition for Ousmane Dembele and Ferran Torres on the right wing. Raphinha scored on his Barcelona debut in a 6-0 pre-season victory over Inter Miami and followed that up with a stunner against Real Madrid in a friendly Clasico.
Lewandowski has completed his long-drawn-out move from Bayern Munich to Barcelona, with the Polish international arriving for a fee of €45m plus €5m in add-ons.
Kounde joined Barcelona after turning down a more lucrative move to Chelsea and the French defender cost an initial €50m from Sevilla with an additional €5m in add-ons.
Barcelona also signed an up-and-coming young talent in Pablo Torre from Racing Santander for €5m, though he is not going through the accountancy books as a first-team signing.
Barcelona's summer signings
| Player | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Raphinha | Leeds | €58 |
| Jules Kounde | Sevilla | €50m |
| Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | €45 |
| Pablo Torre | Racing de Santander | €5m |
| Franck Kessie | AC Milan | Free |
| Andreas Christensen | Chelsea | Free |
| Hector Bellerin | Arsenal | Free |
