Barcelona Femení commence pre-season training on Monday facing a deepening squad crisis after seven first-team players departed this summer, including captain Alexia Putellas and Spain internationals Ona Batlle and Mapi León. The European champions have seen their quadruple-winning roster dismantled by free transfers to English clubs, with the exodus directly linked to financial fair play restrictions affecting the Barcelona men’s team.
Putellas, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, ended her 14-year association with the Catalan club to join London City Lionesses in the Women’s Super League. Her departure without a transfer fee highlighted an internal management crisis at the club. She was joined at the English side by central defender Mapi León, also on a free transfer, where they reunite with former teammates Jana Fernández, María Pérez and Lucía Corrales. Right-back Batlle has signed for Arsenal, while forward Salma Paralluelo has yet to announce her destination, though Paris Saint-Germain are favorites to sign her after negotiations with Chelsea broke down.
The departures leave head coach Pere Romeu with merely 17 senior players—comprising two goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders and three attackers—despite the team sweeping all four available trophies last season. Barcelona have made only one permanent signing this summer, 19-year-old Dutch defender Renee van Asten from Ajax, though the club are in talks to secure Brazil forward Kerolin from Manchester City and expect defender Martina Fernández to return from Everton.
The crisis extends to the academy, with goalkeeper Txell Font joining city neighbours FC Badalona, defender Adriana Ranera signing for Deportiva de A Coruña, midfielder Martina Fenger moving to Hoffenheim and forward Alba Caño transferring to Boston Legacy in the United States. While teenagers Carla Julià and Rosalía Domínguez are tipped for first-team promotion, the club has lost 19 players since 2024 while making just two senior signings during that period.
Fourteen of those 19 departures have joined English clubs, underlining the WSL’s growing dominance. Despite recording a profit of €1.955 million (£1.67 million) last season—their best result since 2023-24—Barcelona cannot fully reinvest due to constraints on the men’s side. With pre-season beginning on 27 July and defensive reinforcements urgently needed following Batlle’s exit a year after Fridolina Rölfö joined Manchester United, the club stated that new signings will be announced soon, though whether they are seasoned professionals or academy products remains uncertain.