FC Barcelona continues to navigate a delicate financial landscape, with the club still striving to meet the strict 1:1 Financial Fair Play rule.
To achieve this stability and return to normal operations, the board is scouring every possible avenue for revenue, from player sales to new commercial partnerships.
According to a new report from Diario SPORT, the club are now on the verge of unlocking a new income stream by finalising an agreement for a new sponsor on the first team’s jersey.
A historic shift in the offing
For over a decade, the back of the Barcelona shirt has been a space dedicated to social causes rather than commercial gain.
Since 2012, the space below the number has been occupied by UNICEF, and later by UNHCR since the summer of 2022.
Barcelona badge
The back of Barcelona shirt has historically represented social causes. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Far from generating revenue, these partnerships actually saw the club pay €400,000 per season to the UN agency.
However, with the UNHCR contract expiring this summer, the club has decided to monetise this asset for the first time.
The report states that Barcelona have received a significant financial offer from a brand linked to emerging economic markets.
With Spotify anchoring the front of the kit and MIDEA set to replace Ambilight on the sleeve, this new deal would complete a lucrative commercial trident on the jersey.
While the board intends to accept the offer to alleviate financial pressure, the agreement is not yet sealed. It must first be ratified by the club’s members.
Consequently, an Extraordinary General Assembly will be convened before the next presidential elections to vote on this new deal, as well as to ratify the existing Spotify agreement for the shirt and Camp Nou naming rights.