Barcelona’s Financial Roadmap Hinges on Crowe’s Audit Ahead of 2024–25 SeasonFC Barcelona’s ability to operate freely in the transfer market this summer hinges on a critical financial audit being conducted by Crowe, an international auditing firm.
The outcome of this audit will determine whether the club can return to La Liga’s 1:1 financial fair play (FFP) rule, a regulation that directly affects their transfer and wage flexibility.
Understanding the 1:1 Financial RuleThe 1:1 rule under La Liga’s FFP system allows a club to spend one euro for every euro it saves or earns in revenue.
This includes income from player sales, sponsorships, commercial operations, or financial injections from strategic partners.
A return to this rule would mark a substantial shift from the more restrictive measures Barcelona has operated under in recent seasons —
where they were subject to the “4:1” or “3:1” spending restrictions, meaning they could only reinvest a small portion of earnings into new player registrations due to their debt and high wage bill.
Audit Timeline and SignificanceCrowe is expected to submit the audit report by early August 2025.
The audit will analyze the club’s projected budget for the 2024–25 season, especially focusing on revenue sources and financial commitments.
A favorable result would effectively green-light Barcelona’s plans to register new signings and finalize pending contractual matters before the La Liga season opener against Mallorca on August 16.
Player Registrations Contingent on ApprovalIf the audit is approved and the club is reinstated under the 1:1 rule, Barcelona will be in a position to
:Officially register new goalkeeper Joan Garcia and experienced shot-stopper Wojciech Szczęsny, both of whom are reportedly signed until 2027.
Finalize the recruitment and registration of a new left winger, a position the club has been actively targeting this summer.
The signings would need to remain within a pre-established salary and cost structure, but would nonetheless offer sporting director Deco greater flexibility.
This would be the first time since the club’s financial crisis escalated in 2021 that Barcelona would enjoy a more “normal” operational status under La Liga regulations.VIP Seat Revenue:
The Cornerstone of the Budget StrategyA central component of Barcelona’s financial strategy involves projected income from VIP seat operations, totaling €100 million.
This income is being counted as part of the club’s commercial revenue in their 2024–25 budget and is divided as follows:€30 million already secured from Fortia, a Qatar-based investment group with links to sports and hospitality.
€70 million pledged by New Era, an investment firm based in the United Arab Emirates.
Of this sum, €28 million has already been paid, while the remaining €42 million is scheduled to be transferred during the 2025–26 financial year.
La Liga typically requires that revenue used for FFP calculations be either already received or contractually guaranteed.
In this case, Crowe is not demanding the full €100 million be in-hand immediately
only that there are legally binding agreements ensuring the remainder will be paid, which would allow the entire sum to be recognized as legitimate income in this year’s budget.
Next Steps and Broader ImplicationsIf the audit validates the VIP revenue and confirms financial stability, La Liga will accept the findings, allowing Barcelona to:
Operate under the 1:1 ruleRegister and sign players more freelyCompete with rivals more effectively in the summer transfer window
This development would also reflect positively on President Joan Laporta’s administration, which has faced scrutiny over the club’s long-term economic strategies, including the use of so-called “economic levers” —
asset sales and commercial deals designed to balance the books temporarily.
However, if the audit does not meet La Liga’s standards, Barcelona could once again face severe restrictions, limiting their ability to strengthen the squad or even register existing deals — a setback that could impact their competitive goals for the season.–
