Barcelona continues to reorganize its salary policy. The signed contract renewals, recent signings, and inherited contracts have created a very diverse wage scale in the locker room. There is one name that, after the new internal data became known, is generating a strong economic debate.
The lowest earners among the untouchables
The most striking case at the bottom is Marc-André ter Stegen. Despite his experience and his role as one of the captains, the German earns about €6.3 million gross per year ($6.3 million), a figure well below the rest of the starters. His contract was restructured to lighten the burden of financial fair play.
Above him are players like Iñigo Martínez and Ferran Torres. Both exceed €8.9 million gross annually ($8.9 million), and reach €10 million ($10 million) in total with bonuses included. Their presence in the rotation keeps them in an intermediate and stable tier.
Marc André Ter Stegen | @FCBarcelona
The €11 million group: the "rotating starters"
Then there is a group of key players, but without star status. Raphinha, Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen, and Ansu Fati are around €11.9 million gross per year ($11.9 million), approximately €230,000 ($230,000) per week. All of them have been kept in the squad despite rumors of departure.
This group forms the backbone of Barça in the rotations, especially in defense and on the wings. They are valued footballers, but not untransferable. In case of economic need, Deco already knows who to look at first.
Raphinha | @FCBarcelona
Flick's new trusted trio
In the next tier, there are already players who are regulars in Hansi Flick's starting eleven. Ronald Araújo, Pedri, and Dani Olmo share the same salary scale: €12.5 million gross per season ($12.5 million), which means more than €240,000 ($240,000) per week. The three have been secured as strategic pieces.
In the case of the Andalusian and the Uruguayan, the renewals were agreed with progressive clauses. Meanwhile, Dani Olmo arrived from Germany accepting that same framework. The idea is to build a competitive and sustainable core, something that doesn't always happen.
Pedri celebrating a goal | @FCBarcelona
The new king of the locker room: Lamine Yamal
With his renewal until 2031 now official, Lamine Yamal has become the player with the highest salary potential in the locker room. Starting July 13 —the date he comes of age— he will receive a fixed salary of €10 million gross per year ($10 million). But that's just the beginning.
To that amount is added a signing bonus of €25 million ($25 million), distributed as €4.2 million ($4.2 million) per season. His performance-based variables (such as the Ballon d'Or) can raise his salary up to €30 million gross annually ($30 million).
If everything goes as planned, Yamal will earn more than any other player in the squad. It is recognition of his sporting impact, but also a risky move by the club. His contract is already generating internal comparisons that not everyone views favorably.
Lamine Yamal during a training session | @FCBarcelona
The contracts that are suffocating the club
But, despite everything, there are two contracts that remain well above any financial projection for Barça. One is Frenkie de Jong's, who receives a total of €19 million gross per season ($19 million). His contract was renewed during an emergency, and it has never been renegotiated downward.
The other is Robert Lewandowski's, who continues to lead the table with a salary of €33.3 million gross per year ($33.3 million), the highest in the club's recent history. Although he remains a decisive striker, his salary is completely unsustainable for the current structure.
Robert Lewandowski in a training session | @FCBarcelona
Barça's wage scale remains unbalanced despite adjustment efforts. Lamine Yamal is already among the highest paid, and only two contracts exceed €25 million gross per year ($25 million). One of them, Lewandowski's, could mark the club's next big move in the market.
Laporta and Deco are working against the clock to prevent these salaries from continuing to drag down the economic model. The challenge is not to sign, but to pay what has already been agreed.
