After a brilliant 2024/25 season, which saw Barcelona win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, the Catalan side is expected to have a busy summer as the club looks to back Hansi Flick in the transfer market.
Barcelona fell just short in the Champions League as they reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2019, and Sporting Director Deco says they’ll make ‘two, three or four signings’ this summer.
So, how can the club improve ahead of next season?
The Spanish giants have financial constraints, but here at FIRST, we’ve looked at how Barcelona can strengthen their already impressive squad.
We’ve got plenty of transfer news and rumors covered, but we also have match tips & UK betting sites on FIRST.com.
1. Goalkeeper: Land a long-term successor
Wojciech Szczesny proved a decent stopgap for Barcelona last season, and with Marc‑Andre ter Stegen’s Nou Camp future up in the air, it’s clear a new goalkeeper was high on the list of priorities.
Barcelona have addressed the problem quickly and they’ve gone out and signed Espanyol’s Joan Garcia after meeting the 24-year-old’s €25 million release clause in his contract. He’s penned a six-year deal at the Nou Camp.
Garcia, who made the most saves in La Liga last season, helped Espanyol avoid relegation, could be Barcelona’s No. 1 for years to come.
He’s a brilliant shot stopper, solid in one-v-one situations, and he’s also good with the ball at his feet, which is crucial to being successful at Barcelona.
2. Defensive depth: Reinforcements across the back four
With Barcelona looking to go one step further in the Champions League next season, Flick will be well aware that he needs to bolster his defensive ranks.
Flick is said to be after a centre-back and a full-back this summer.
Jonathan Tah was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona; however, the German opted to join Bayern Munich from Bayer Leverkusen instead.
It’s claimed the defender, who was available on a free transfer, was keen to join, but there were issues over his registration.
Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez formed a solid partnership; however, the latter is now 34 years old and Barcelona need to look at a long-term replacement sooner or later.
Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Eric Garcia are okay back-up options, but Barcelona could be open to selling any of them to raise funds for a higher-quality centre-back.
It remains to be seen how Barcelona will approach their centre-half issue, but several exciting names have both been linked with moves to the Nou Camp.
When looking at Barcelona’s full-backs, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde were brilliant last season. The pair were solid defensively, but they also chipped in with five goals and 12 assists throughout the campaign.
With the amount of games Barcelona play throughout the course of a season, Flick needs options so he can rotate his back line.
A few names have been linked with moves to the Nou Camp, including Rayo Vallecano’s Andrei Ratiu, Marc Pubill of Almeria, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo, who is a La Masia graduate.
3. Attacking versatility: Potentially a big-name signing?
Deco is reportedly eager to add a natural left winger to the squad, an area where Flick could make a marquee addition.
While Raphinha enjoyed a sensational season operating from the left (with Lamine Yamal on the right and Robert Lewandowski centrally), there’s speculation Flick might shift the Brazilian inside to accommodate a high-profile winger.
Targets like Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Luis Díaz (Liverpool), and Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) were all explored. However, the front-runner is now Nico Williams.
Despite not being a top priority initially, Nico’s strong desire to join Barcelona and willingness to reduce his wage demands have vaulted him to the top of the list. He has already informed Athletic Club of his decision, and his signing is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
While both Nico and Raphinha are natural wide players, they’ve also featured as central forwards and could offer tactical flexibility. Their pace, dribbling, and direct style make them a nightmare for defenders at the highest level.
