With Franck Kessié (25), Andreas Christensen (26) and, even if he may leave in winter, Memphis Depay (28), FC Barcelona has three of the most valuable free transfer players in football history in the squad. While the striker arrived in 2021, the midfielder and centre-back were brought to the Nou Camp free of charge this summer, as were full-backs Héctor Bellerín (27) and Marcos Alonso (31), who together have a market value of €32m. Given the continued major financial challenges facing the club, this transfer tactic is set to continue in the years to come.
With Alaba, Ballack and Kessié: Most valuable free transfers in the world
Ballack, Alaba & Co.: These are the most valuable transfers…
“We need to focus more and more on this free transfer player market,” Barça sporting director Mateu Alemany told the club’s general meeting on Sunday (quoted via “sports.es“). “This year we did that with Kessié, Christensen, Alonso and Bellerín and many more will follow.” Alemany praised the unconditional desire of the signed players to come to Barcelona: “They rejected big offers to move to Barça and we appreciate that.”
The most valuable free transfer in history was made by Lionel Messi (35), who went from Barça to Paris Saint-Germain a year ago with a market value of 80 million euros. There has been speculation for months about a return to his great love, which he left in tears – Messi’s contract in the French capital expires next summer. Barcelona Vice-President Eduard Romeu recently fueled the rumor mill when he said about Messi’s move in 2023: “It would be financially possible because he would then return as a free transfer player.” want to extend.
With Gündogan, Ndicka and Messi: Most valuable players with contracts expiring in 2023
Ilkay Gundogan – Manchester City – market value: €25M
In 2023, as of now, Messi is still among the three most valuable players who can transfer on a free transfer with a market value of EUR 50 million. Other players on this list have also been linked with Barça in the past, including Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot (23), Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio (26) or Athletic Bilbao’s centre-back Iñigo Martínez (31) – all speculation has been so far though little concrete or, as in the case of Asensios, turned out to be false reports.
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