How Much Have Barcelona Spent on Players?

By Anna Duncan

Barcelona, one of the most successful football clubs in the world, has a reputation for assembling star-studded squads. Over the years, they have invested heavily in acquiring top talent from around the globe. Let’s take a closer look at how much they have spent on players throughout their history.

The Early Years

In the early years of Barcelona’s existence, transfer fees were not as common as they are today. However, even back then, Barcelona showed their ambition by making significant investments to strengthen their squad.

1919 – 1929:

  • Paulino Alcántara: In 1912, Barcelona signed Alcántara for 1,000 pesetas – a substantial sum at that time.
  • Samitier: In 1919, Barcelona broke the bank by signing Samitier for an unprecedented fee of 5,000 pesetas.

The Modern Era

In recent decades, transfer fees have skyrocketed in football. Barcelona has not shied away from spending big to bring in some of the world’s best players.

2000 – 2010:

  • Ronaldinho: In 2003, Barcelona paid Paris Saint-Germain €30 million to secure Ronaldinho’s services. The Brazilian playmaker went on to become one of the club’s all-time greats.
  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic: In 2009, Barcelona acquired Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan for a whopping €69.5 million plus Samuel Eto’o going the other way.

2010 – 2020:

  • Neymar: In 2013, Barcelona triggered Neymar’s release clause by paying €57.1 million to Santos. The Brazilian superstar formed a lethal attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
  • Philippe Coutinho: In January 2018, Barcelona splashed out €120 million to sign Coutinho from Liverpool, making him the second most expensive player in history at that time.

The Present Day

Barcelona’s spending spree has continued into recent years, as they strive to maintain their position among the elite clubs in Europe.

2020 – Present:

  • Frenkie de Jong: In 2019, Barcelona secured the services of Dutch midfielder De Jong from Ajax for a fee of €75 million.
  • Miralem Pjanic: In the same year, Barcelona signed Pjanic from Juventus for an initial fee of €60 million plus add-ons.

The Total Spending

All these transfers add up to a staggering amount. Barcelona has spent well over a billion euros on player acquisitions throughout their history. This total includes transfer fees, signing bonuses, agent fees, and other related costs.

In conclusion, Barcelona’s commitment to assembling world-class squads has come at a significant financial cost. Their willingness to invest heavily in top talent has been key to their success over the years.