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Eight in, many out – Rating Barcelona’s 2026 summer transfer window
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- Eight in, many out – Rating Barcelona’s 2026 summer transfer window
Eight in, many out – Rating Barcelona's 2026 summer transfer window
Barcelona entered the 2026 summer transfer window in a position they had not enjoyed for years.
For the first time since 2022, the Catalans were able to operate under La Liga 's 1:1 Fair Play rule. That gave Deco and Hansi Flick far more freedom in the market, and Barcelona made full use of it.
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The club spent around €190 million on new players while bringing in around €108 million through transfers and other player rights.
It was the highest investment of Joan Laporta's current spell as president.
There was a clear focus on improving the attack, but Barcelona also made one huge move in midfield with Rodri, brought Joao Cancelo back permanently and added more experience in goal.
The departures were just as important. Robert Lewandowski's time at the club came to an end. Ferran Torres was one of Barça's biggest sales in recent windows.
Club captains Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo left on loan, while Deco also completed the sales of many academy starlets.
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However, it was not all plain sailing for the Catalans, who missed out on Julian Alvarez after making him their priority all summer.
More pertinently, the club failed to address the central defensive problem in their squad while further weakening the position after the exits of Araujo and Alvaro Cortes.
Barça Universal now rate Barcelona's major moves from a very busy 2026 summer transfer window.
Arrivals
Anthony Gordon
Gordon was Barcelona's first and most expensive signing of the summer, arriving from Newcastle for around €70 million plus €10 million in variables.
Already proving his worth. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
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Considering the prices at which some other attackers have moved clubs this transfer window, the Englishman is already looking like a bargain for Barça.
The winger brings speed, direct running and another serious threat in attack. He has already settled in at Barça. Stylistically, he is perfect for Hansi Flick.
He provided two assists within four minutes of his competitive debut against Elche and followed it up with another sensational performance against Rayo Vallecano.
Transfer rating: 9
Karim Adeyemi
At €22 million plus variables, Adeyemi looks like one of Barcelona's smartest deals. He can play across the front line, knows Flick well and gives the team something they badly needed in raw pace.
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Scoring on his first official start only added to the excitement around the move. He might not have the highest ceiling, but for that price, he does not need to.
Transfer rating:8.5
Rodri
Rodri is comfortably Barcelona's biggest statement of the window.
The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner arrived from Manchester City for €70 million plus bonuses and gives Flick one of the best controlling midfielders in football.
He is a profile Barça's squad have lacked since Sergio Busquets, and the fact that the Catalans beat Real Madrid to his signature makes it significantly sweeter.
There are concerns over his recent injury record, but if he stays fit, he can take this team to another level.
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Transfer rating:9
Former teammates reunited at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Joao Cancelo
Barcelona finally signed Joao Cancelo on a permanent basis after two loan spells in which he endeared himself to the fans .
Having fought for this move all summer, the Portuguese full-back eventually agreed a contract termination with Al-Hilal to move to the Catalan club.
At 32, he is not a long-term solution, but getting a player of his quality and versatility without paying a transfer fee is excellent business.
Transfer rating:8
Dominik Livakovic
Barcelona paid around €2 million to sign Livakovic from Fenerbahce after Marc-Andre ter Stegen left for Ajax.
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Joan Garcia remains the main man in goal, but Livakovic brings experience and gives Flick another trusted option. For such a small fee, there is very little risk involved.
On the flip side, there is very little potential upside from this transfer as well.
Transfer rating:7
Jesse Bisiwu
Bisiwu is more of a signing for the future than the present. Barcelona paid around €8.5 million for the 18-year-old winger with the hope that he can live up to his obvious potential.
Blessed with pace, power and the ability to take on his man one-v-one, Bisiwu's two goals against Basel in pre-season show exactly what he can become.
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Incredibly talented, but not a signing for this season.
Transfer rating:7.5
Hamza Abdelkarim
Barcelona activated their option to sign Hamza permanently after his loan spell from Al Ahly, with the operation costing around €1.5 million.
The Egyptian then finished pre-season as Flick's top scorer with four goals . He made his competitive debut for Barça against Rayo Vallecano.
At that price, the potential upside from Hamza is massive, and this might go down as one of the smartest pieces of business Barça have ever done.
Transfer rating:8.5
Gabriel Jesus
Confirmed: Barcelona squad list to face Valencia – Jesus, Livakovic called up
A gamble for Barcelona. (Picture credit: X/@FCBarcelona)
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Gabriel Jesus was Barcelona's near-deadline-day solution after the club could not land Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez.
The Brazilian cost around €10 million plus add-ons and brings Premier League experience, pressing and the ability to play across the attack.
That said, his injury record is a major cause for concern, and the Brazilian has hardly played meaningful minutes for the last couple of seasons.
An emergency signing who could prove useful , but the jury is still out on Jesus.
Transfer rating:6.5
Departures
Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski left Barcelona at the end of his contract after four seasons, 191 appearances and 119 goals.
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There was no transfer fee, but the club also made massive savings after removing his enormous wages from their books.
Replacing his goals will not be easy, but it was the perfect time to say goodbye to the Pole.
Transfer rating:8
Marcus Rashford
Rashford returned to Manchester United after Barcelona decided against making his loan permanent.
The Englishman had shown his value during the season, but keeping him would have required another large financial commitment.
With Gordon and Adeyemi arriving, Barcelona chose to rebuild the position instead. Regardless, this is an opportunity that the club may have missed out on, in hindsight.
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Transfer rating:6.5
Ansu Fati
Ansu Fati left Barcelona permanently. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Ansu's inevitable departure from Barcelona came through a permanent move to AS Monaco, the club at which he was on loan last season.
He helped Barça pocket €11 million and also a percentage of any future transfer fee. It was the ideal scenario.
Hansi Flick and Barça had moved on from Ansu, and this was a much-needed sale for the Catalans.
Transfer rating:8.5
Inaki Pena
Pena joined Panathinaikos permanently after spending the previous season on loan at Elche.
Barcelona received around €3 million for a goalkeeper who no longer had a path into the first team after the rise of Joan Garcia. It was simple but effective business.
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Transfer rating:8
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Ter Stegen joined Ajax on loan until 2027 after losing his place in Barcelona's plans.
Hansi Flick had made Joan Garcia Barça's No. 1 in no uncertain terms, and getting the German to leave on loan was ideal for both the player and the club.
However, with the Catalans still paying the majority of his wages and having to face this situation again next summer, there is not much short-term benefit for Barça here.
Transfer rating:4
Ronald Araujo
Araujo joined Liverpool on loan. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Araujo's loan to Liverpool is probably the most questionable operation of Barcelona's summer. He remains one of the team's strongest defenders physically and had become a club captain.
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However, his time at the club had become far too toxic for anyone's good, and letting him leave on loan to Liverpool could help his career in the long run.
With the Reds assuming his wages in their entirety, his exit, unlike Ter Stegen's, comes with benefits for the Catalan club.
While the door is not completely shut on the Uruguayan returning next summer, it does feel like he has run his race in Blaugrana colours.
Transfer rating:7
Ferran Torres
PSG paid around €48.5 million for Ferran after a season in which he scored 16 La Liga goals. Financially, Barcelona sold him at a very good moment and received a major fee.
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However, with both of the club's strikers from last season leaving and Alvarez not arriving, it has left Flick having to improvise for the No. 9 role or trust Gabriel Jesus.
A great financial decision, but not necessarily one that makes sporting sense.
Transfer rating:7
Marc Casado
Casado joined Deportivo de A Coruna on loan on deadline day after competition in Barcelona's midfield became even stronger with Rodri's arrival.
It was one of Barça's worst pieces of business this summer, having known throughout the two months that the former Barça Atletic captain was on the exit ramp.
Casado is likely to return to the club next summer, and the only way they get something out of it is if he explodes at Depor and sees his market value soar.
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Transfer rating:3
Hector Fort
Real Sociedad paid around €8.5 million for Fort, while Barcelona kept a buyback option and a percentage of any future sale.
With several players ahead of him in the pecking order, the pathway to minutes in the first team was close to nil for the Spaniard.
Barça get useful money now, keep control over his future and Fort can now be at a club where he gets regular football. The ideal transfer.
Transfer rating:9
Jofre Torrents
Torrents left for Ajax for around €6 million after making only four first-team appearances for Barcelona.
Ajax are an excellent place for young players to develop, and Barça have enough control over his future not to regret the move if he takes a big step forward.
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Transfer rating:7.5
Tommy Marques
Tommy joined SC Braga. (Photo courtesy: X/FCBarcelona_es)
Probably Barça's best sale this summer would have to be Tommy Marques.
SC Braga paid around €11 million for Marques despite the midfielder making only two first-team appearances, while Barça also kept a buyback option and a percentage of a future sale.
Outstanding business.
Transfer rating:9.5
Other La Masia exits
Toni Fernandez joined Venezia, Guille Fernandez moved to Mallorca and Alvaro Cortes signed for Royal Antwerp on deadline day.
Barcelona protected themselves through buyback or sell-on clauses in these deals, while also raising more money from their academy.
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Deco had placed a lot of emphasis on selling La Masia players this summer for immediate gains while keeping control of their future, and these deals were no different.
Transfer rating:8
Conclusion
Barcelona's 2026 summer window was very different from the ones supporters have become used to in recent years.
Instead of searching mainly for loans, bargains and short-term fixes, the club were finally able to spend serious money again.
Gordon, Adeyemi and Rodri immediately raise the quality of Flick's squad, while Cancelo, Jesus and Livakovic bring valuable experience.
At the same time, Barcelona did a much better job of generating money through sales, and Deco finally had a summer proving that he was capable of being Barça's sporting director.
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There are still questions. How can Barça go into the new season without signing a central defender? Why would you let Cortes and Araujo go without signing a player for that position? What happens now that Julian Alvarez has not joined Barça?
Apart from such uncertainties, though, the squad looks deeper, faster and better equipped to wage war on all fronts.
For years, Barcelona's transfer windows were controlled by what they could not do. This summer, they finally had the freedom to make choices again.
And, for the most part, they made good ones.
Overall transfer window rating: 8.5/10
