Barcelona have found a new way to make La Masia pay
BARCELONA — Barcelona have changed the way they deal with talented La Masia graduates who cannot immediately break into Hansi Flick’s first team, increasingly selling youngsters instead of loaning them while retaining rights that could make the club money again if their careers take off elsewhere.
The strategy became particularly visible during the recently closed transfer window as Jofre Torrents, Toni Fernandez, Guille Fernandez, Alvaro Cortes and Tommy Marques were among the academy products allowed to pursue their careers elsewhere.
Instead of simply cutting ties, Barcelona have structured many of the transfers to retain unusually large percentages of future sales. The club reportedly kept 50% interests in future transfers involving Torrents, Toni Fernandez and Cortes, while retaining 40% for Guille Fernandez and a smaller percentage for Marques.
Buyback clauses provide another layer of protection.
Torrents can reportedly be brought back for €14 million, while buyback figures for Guille and Toni are understood to sit between €10 million and €15 million from 2028. The structure means Barcelona can allow young players to develop through regular professional football without necessarily losing access to them permanently.
It also turns La Masia into an increasingly important financial asset.
Under sporting director Deco, Barcelona have reportedly generated around €100 million from the sale of 17 academy developed players since 2022. The latest strategy could increase that value by allowing the club to earn from the initial transfer and potentially collect again when the player is sold by his new club.
Tommy Marques provides an example of the immediate value available. The midfielder joined Braga for a reported €11 million plus another €3 million in potential variables after making only two competitive first team appearances for Barcelona. The club officially confirmed that it retained a sell on percentage and buyback option in his transfer.
Barcelona have employed a similar structure with Héctor Fort, whose permanent move to Real Sociedad includes both a buyback option and a percentage of any future transfer.
The approach does not mean Barcelona are abandoning the traditional purpose of La Masia. Young players continue to reach the first team, with the academy remaining central to the club’s football identity.
What has changed is what happens to those who find the pathway blocked. Instead of repeatedly sending them on loan or eventually losing them cheaply, Barcelona increasingly want money immediately while keeping a financial interest in what those players become.
For a club that has spent years trying to rebuild its finances, La Masia is therefore becoming more than Barcelona’s route to finding the next homegrown star. Even the players who leave can now continue creating value for the club.
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