Since the start of the summer transfer window, Barcelona Femení have seen seven key players depart, yet only one new signing has been added to the squad. The lone addition is 19-year-old defender Renee van Asten, who joined from Ajax. With so many experienced figures leaving and no replacements at a comparable level, the team's depth is now alarmingly low. Notably, four Spain internationals are among those who have left the club. These include Alexia Putellas, Ona Batlle, Mapi León, and Salma Paralluelo, who have either already committed to new clubs or are expected to do so soon.
What's Driving the Exodus?
As is often the case in football, financial motivations are a key factor behind the departures. The financial issues affecting the men’s La Liga team have created ripples across the entire club, including the women's side. This has made it harder for Barcelona Femení to keep hold of their top talent. The English Women’s Super League has particularly benefited, with 14 of the last 19 players to leave Barcelona moving to clubs in England. London City Lionesses and Arsenal have become especially popular destinations for key players.
Mapi León has joined Putellas at London City, while Ona Batlle made the switch to Arsenal. These high-profile exits compound the challenges for a team that already struggles to replace key players.
At this point, the Barcelona Femení squad consists of just 17 senior players, divided into two goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders, and three forwards. The club is now under intense pressure to add reinforcements before pre-season begins on July 27. While Barcelona have stated that new signings are on the horizon and will be announced soon, it's unclear whether these will be established professionals or more young academy talents.
Last season, the club promoted academy products Aïcha Camara and Clara Serrajordi into the senior team, and similar moves could be made again. However, the reliance on internal talent is growing more problematic by the day.
Not only are experienced players leaving, but promising academy talents are also departing. Goalkeeper Txell Font and midfielder Adriana Ranera have both signed elsewhere, and more high-level academy players are considering options outside of Barcelona. This outflow significantly reduces the pool of available talent for the first team to draw from.
Last season, Barcelona Femení turned in a record profit of €1.955m, their best financial performance since the 2023-24 campaign. This was largely driven by increased Champions League prize money and the success of winning all three domestic titles. However, with so many key players now gone, replicating such a strong financial result in the 2026-27 season seems unlikely.
The departure of Ona Batlle is a major setback, particularly for the defense, which has already been depleted by the 2025 transfer of Fridolina Rölfö to Manchester United. The forward line also appears to be thinner than ever, despite coach Pere Romeu's ability to utilise versatile players like Vicky López, Kika Nazareth, and Sydney Schertenleib in attacking roles.
A growing sense of unease surrounds the squad. While the team somehow managed to win all available titles last season, it remains to be seen how long they can sustain such success. A club aiming to defend its European crown cannot build its future solely on the strength of young academy players for long. The current squad structure is one big injury away from collapse, and without significant reinforcements, the long-term sustainability of this team is in serious doubt.