Roger Hampel
Photo Credit: FC Barcelona
The FC Barcelona Board of Directors has presented a positive outlook for the club's financial future with the approval of both the 2023/24 financial results and the budget for the 2024/25 season. This move, supported by the club’s delegate members, marks a significant step forward in stabilizing the club's economic situation after years of financial turbulence.
Financial Results for the 2023/24 Season
The 2023/24 season was pivotal for FC Barcelona, achieving a positive ordinary profit of €12 million. The vote at the General Assembly reflected broad support for the financial strategy, with 452 votes in favor, 156 against, and 25 abstentions. This profit represents a major accomplishment for a club that has faced substantial financial challenges in recent years.
A few key highlights of the 2023/24 financial year include:
• Sponsorship Revenue: An all-time record of over €210 million in sponsorship income, showcasing the club's growing attractiveness to global brands.
• Merchandising Sales: The club's merchandising subsidiary, BLM, posted record sales of nearly €110 million, a 72% increase since 2018.
• Transfer Profits: Player transfers yielded profits exceeding €80 million, further solidifying Barcelona's strategy of player development and market-value maximization.
• Payroll Reduction: One of the most critical achievements was reducing the wage bill by €170 million, from €670 million to €500 million, bringing it within UEFA's recommended salary-to-revenue ratio.
However, despite these positive results, the club closed the consolidated financial year with a net loss of €91 million. This was primarily due to an extraordinary cost of €141 million related to the non-payment by Bridgeburg Invest, S.L., a situation that FC Barcelona has prudently registered in its accounts, while maintaining confidence in future payment recovery.
Budget for the 2024/25 Season
Looking ahead, FC Barcelona's budget for the 2024/25 season reflects a conservative yet optimistic approach, anticipating €893 million in operating income and €873 million in operating expenses. The approval of the budget was passed with 409 votes in favor, 75 against, and 28 abstentions.
Key budgetary expectations include:
• Sponsorship Growth: The club projects over €250 million in sponsorship revenue, a significant increase from the previous year.
• Merchandise Sales: Both in-store and e-commerce sales are expected to rise, with a forecasted double-digit growth reaching over €125 million.
• Stadium Operations: The team will continue to play at the Estadi Olímpic during the first half of the season, with a gradual return to Spotify Camp Nou, albeit at reduced capacity. The club expects a slow recovery in stadium income but anticipates a rebound once the stadium is fully operational.
• Conservative Investment: FC Barcelona will continue its restrained investment policy, focusing on nurturing talent from its academy and only making select investments in key players.
By maintaining a stable wage bill at around €500 million and focusing on profitable player transfers, FC Barcelona is on track to generate an ordinary profit of €5 million by the end of the 2024/25 season. The club also aims to create a positive EBITDA, which will lay a strong foundation for the 2025/26 season when the new Spotify Camp Nou will be fully integrated into the revenue generation structure.
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