LaLiga

Barcelona boosted by Marc Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid

The left back’s transfer triggers FIFA solidarity payments across Spain, with Barcelona emerging as the biggest financial beneficiary from the deal

Amanda Perobelli

Alberto P. Sierra Roddy Cons

Update: Jun 16th, 2026 05:46 EDT

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Marc Cucurella has joined Real Madrid after completing a move from Chelsea worth close to €50 million ($58 million). Part of the fee will be distributed to several LaLiga clubs, including Barcelona.

FIFA rules trigger payments across Spain

Under FIFA’s solidarity mechanism and training compensation rules, 5% of certain transfer fees must be allocated to clubs that developed a player between the ages of 12 and 23.

In this case, that means a portion of Cucurella’s transfer fee will be shared among multiple teams, including Barcelona, Espanyol, Eibar and even Brighton, where he also spent a short spell in his development pathway.

👋 ¡Bienvenido, @Cucurella3! 👋 pic.twitter.com/pKA5F2TSNT
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 15, 2026

Barcelona set to be the biggest beneficiary

Barcelona are expected to receive the largest share. Based on FIFA’s estimated calculator and a €50 million ($58 million) transfer fee, the Catalan club would collect more than €1.3 million ($1.5 million) from the deal.

Espanyol could receive around €312,000 ($362,000), while Eibar and Getafe would each surpass €200,000 ($230,000).

From La Masia prospect to first-team fringe player

Cucurella was highly regarded in Barcelona’s youth system after arriving from Espanyol. He became a regular in the club’s youth ranks, featuring as a starter in multiple UEFA Youth League campaigns and playing a key role for Barcelona B as they earned promotion to Spain’s second division.

He went on to make 37 appearances in the Segunda División the following season, but a pathway to the first team never opened up.

With Jordi Alba firmly established at left back, Cucurella managed just seven minutes of official senior football for Barcelona, appearing in a Copa del Rey match against Murcia.

Loans, breakthrough and eventual departure

He was later loaned to Eibar and Getafe before making a permanent move to Getafe in 2020 for €11.8 million ($13.7 million).

From there, his career accelerated. After a strong spell in Madrid, he joined Brighton for €18 million ($20.9 million), and then moved to Chelsea for a reported €65.3 million ($75.8 million) following an impressive debut season in the Premier League.

Facing Barcelona again, this time in white

Next season, Cucurella will prepare for his first El Clásico from the opposite side, although it will not be his first meeting with Barcelona.

Barcelona boosted by Marc Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid — Cucurella apologizes after scoring against Barcelona for Eibar. Juan Manuel Serrano Arce

He has already faced his former club seven times in different competitions, even scoring against them in a 2-2 draw while playing for Eibar in the final round of the 2018-19 season. On that occasion, he celebrated respectfully and later apologized to the club where he developed.

A career worth €151 million in transfers

With this move to Real Madrid, Cucurella becomes the second most expensive Spanish player in cumulative transfer fees, reaching €151.1 million ($175.3 million).

Only Álvaro Morata has generated more, with a total career transfer value of €217.2 million ($252 million).

Cucurella’s first major transfer came when Eibar activated a €2 million ($2.3 million) option after his loan from Barcelona. The Catalan club later re-signed him for €4 million ($4.6 million) before sending him out again on loan to Getafe.

After his €11.8 million ($13.7 million) permanent move to Getafe, he joined Brighton a year later, before Chelsea invested €65.3 million ($75.8 million). Now, after a spell that included a Club World Cup triumph and success in the UEFA Conference League, he arrives at Real Madrid for what could be the defining chapter of his career.