FC Barcelona is about to secure one of the most desired signings. After months of rumors and speculation, the operation to sign Catalan goalkeeper Joan García from RCD Espanyol is in its final stage.
The blaugrana club already has everything in place to make the goalkeeper's signing official. The footballer will sign his new contract this Wednesday and will commit to Barça for the next five seasons.
25 million and an investment that sets the course
The agreement with Joan García was finalized days ago, but it depended on the payment of the €25 million ($25 million) release clause. According to Culemanía, the club will make this payment to La Liga imminently, between Tuesday and Wednesday.
The acquisition of one of the most sought-after goalkeepers on the market confirms Barça's ambition to keep strengthening. García, who had received several offers from major English clubs, has chosen to stay in Barcelona, prioritizing his personal and professional stability. Despite tempting offers from Europe, the goalkeeper is opting for a project that offers him a historic opportunity.
Key sales that made the signing possible
The transfer of Joan García would not have been possible without previous departures from FC Barcelona. Barça has managed to balance their finances with key sales such as Álex Valle for €6 million ($6 million), Lenglet's contract termination, and Todibo's transfer for €8 million ($8 million). These operations have freed up salary space and caused additional income.
These transactions have added €12 million ($12 million) to the treasury and freed up €28 million ($28 million) in salary space. With these measures, Barça has been able to take on García's signing and has opened up possibilities for other moves in the market.
Economic conditions and new opportunities
Despite the departures and recent operations, the club's economic situation still is not ideal. Barça is awaiting approval from Crowe Global to certify €100 million ($100 million) from the sale of 475 VIP seats in the new Camp Nou. This income would be key to complying with the 1:1 rule, allowing the club to register new salary slots according to the money they free up.
Meanwhile, the resolution of the Barça Studios operation is also under review. If the audit requires part of the €208 million ($208 million) recorded as income in 2023 to be written down, the club could once again face losses.
This situation would negatively affect their Financial Fair Play, although revenue has been slightly higher than desired. Barça might see the need to sell another player, with Andreas Christensen being one of the main candidates. If necessary, the club could also free up high-value slots, such as those of Ter Stegen or Ansu Fati, to balance their accounts and keep moving forward with their project.