Barcelona grips handle on another financial lever to restructures its debts

Amid ongoing scrutiny over its financial health and its ability to comply with LaLiga’s 1:1 spending rule—key to registering players like Joan García and potentially Nico Williams as well, Barcelona announced Friday that it has successfully closed a $455 million bond issuance (converted from €424 million).

The move allows the club to refinance a significant portion of the debt tied to its ambitious Espai Barça stadium redevelopment project, even before the men’s first team officially returns to Spotify Camp Nou on August 10 at 3:00 a.m. EST.

Barcelona restructures its debts

In an official statement, Barça revealed that, in partnership with Goldman Sachs, it restructured the debt originally due in 2028 into a new long-term framework. Under this revised plan, repayments will begin in 2033 and continue through 2050. The average interest rate on the refinanced amount is 5.19%, a figure the club says reflects strong investor confidence and a marked improvement in its financial outlook. According to the statement, the risk premium on this new issuance is nearly half that of the original 2023 bond deal.

The Catalan club expressed satisfaction in its official statement, highlighting that it has taken the necessary steps to ensure a gradual and structured repayment of the debt tied to the Espai Barça project. The club also emphasized that this refinancing deal was completed ahead of schedule, underscoring its proactive financial strategy.

FC Barcelona’s credit rating upgraded

Barça pointed to the recent credit rating update from Morningstar DBRS, which upgraded the club’s outlook from “stable” to “positive.” This shift, the club noted, is further evidence of its ongoing economic recovery and its growing ability to meet financial obligations. According to Morningstar DBRS, the improved rating reflects Barça’s stronger financial performance over the past two seasons, bolstered by cost controls and the anticipated revenue boost from returning to the renovated Spotify Camp Nou.

In its statement, FC Barcelona recalled that back in April 2023, the club finalized a massive $1.56 billion financing deal (converted from €1.45 billion) to kick off the long-awaited renovation of Spotify Camp Nou. Crucially, the club emphasized that the agreement met all the conditions approved in a member referendum—no club assets were used as collateral, no mortgage was placed on the stadium, and there was no financial burden placed on club members.

The deal was backed by 20 major investors, including financial heavyweights like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. With this latest adjustment to the repayment schedule—extending it through 2050—Barça continues to fine-tune its long-term financial strategy while keeping its ambitious Espai Barça project on track.

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