February 20 – LaLiga has published its latest squad cost limits (SCL) following the winter transfer window, with FC Barcelona receiving the biggest economic increase – a €37.2m upward adjustment.
For a club that have spent the last few years trying to escape their own financial straitjacket, it’s a welcome boost. Meanwhile, Real Madrid continue to sit at the top of the spending charts with a hefty SCL of €754.9 million.
In total, nine clubs in LaLiga EA SPORTS – the Spanish top-flight – saw their spending limits rise, five had theirs reduced, and six remained unchanged. Deportivo Alavés (+€7.5m) and Valencia CF (+€5.4m) also received notable increases, but Barcelona’s jump is by far the most significant.
LaLiga’s Economic Control system, introduced in 2013, was designed to prevent clubs from spending beyond their means. Unlike the often-retrospective punishments seen elsewhere, this model enforces limits in real time, adjusting them every transfer window based on a club’s revenue, non-sporting expenses, and debt repayments. The aim is simple: financial sustainability without sacrificing sporting competitiveness.
Barcelona’s financial struggles have been well documented. Saddled with debt that at one point exceeded €1 billion, the club have had to resort to drastic measures – including selling off future commercial revenue streams, or ‘economic levers’, just to stay competitive in the market.
Even with this latest increase, their SCL remains significantly lower than in previous years, reflecting the continued need for careful financial management.
Yet LaLiga insists its model is working. Public debt among Spanish clubs has fallen from €650 million to just €3 million, while the issue of unpaid player salaries – a long-standing problem in Spanish football – has been eradicated.
And despite the strict controls, LaLiga clubs have continued to dominate in Europe, winning 21 continental trophies since 2013 – more than the rest of the major leagues combined.
For Barcelona, the latest adjustment provides some much-needed room to manoeuvre as they juggle financial recovery with squad building. But for LaLiga, it’s another reminder that spending power must be earned, not assumed.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1740155842labto1740155842ofdlr1740155842owedi1740155842sni@g1740155842niwe.1740155842yrrah1740155842