Barcelona’s registration nightmare: Marcus Rashford and six other players still unregistered as La Liga kickoff looms — Here’s the reason why

With just over a week remaining before Barcelona’s La Liga opener against Mallorca, the club is facing a major registration crisis — seven senior players remain unregistered, including Marcus Rashford, despite the recent departure of Inigo Martinez to Al-Nassr. The situation has left fans puzzled, as even significant wage bill relief hasn’t yet translated into new arrivals being cleared to play.

For a club that has been fighting financial constraints for years, transfer window turbulence is nothing new. But this summer’s impasse feels different. Inigo Martinez’s move to Cristiano Ronaldo‘s side, worth $16 million in annual salary savings, was expected to help unlock registrations. Yet, days later, key signings like Rashford and goalkeeper Joan Garcia are still on the sidelines — figuratively and, for now, literally.

Spanish newspaper Marca says the club has freed up around $46.6 million in Financial Fair Play (FFP) space through recent sales, loans, and sponsorship deals. This includes the exits of Pau Victor, Pablo Torre, Ansu Fati, Clement Lenglet, and a $11.6 million sponsorship agreement. Despite that, Barcelona remains outside La Liga’s “1:1 rule”, which severely limits their spending flexibility.

Why Barcelona still can’t register players — Reason revealed

The heart of the problem lies in La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations, which require clubs to balance spending with revenue, maintain positive net worth, and avoid excessive debt. Falling outside the “1:1 rule” means the Blaugrana can only use 50% of any salary savings toward new registrations.

That makes Martinez’s departure worth only $8 million of usable space — far short of covering the reduced but still substantial wages of Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, or Garcia, whose $29 million transfer fee from Espanyol carries significant annual amortization costs.

Further complicating matters is the situation with Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The German goalkeeper is recovering from back surgery, but refused to sign a medical report confirming a long-term absence. Under FFP rules, if a player is out for over four months, the club can replace his registration and use up to 80% of his salary for another player. Without Ter Stegen’s consent, that avenue is blocked.

As La Liga explained earlier this year regarding another disputed revenue item — the $117 million Camp Nou VIP box deal — “No amount from the (VIP box deal) is ultimately recorded in the profit and loss accounts, contrary to what had been certified by the club and the auditor at the time of said transaction.” That rejection denied the Catalans a significant boost in their salary limit calculations.

The players still waiting

According to Marca, the seven unregistered senior players are:

• Marcus Rashford
• Joan Garcia
• Wojciech Szczesny (recently extended contract)
• Gerard Martin
• Hector Fort
• Marc Bernal
• Oriol Romeu (expected to leave)

In addition, Roony Bardghji is yet to be registered but can join the squad as a reserve player from Barca B. The club has prioritized Garcia and Rashford, but high salaries and amortization costs mean even freed-up funds from Martinez’s exit aren’t enough.

Possible solutions before the La Liga opener

Barcelona is exploring two main options:

1. VIP Box Approval at Camp Nou – If auditors validate the new boxes and permits are issued, the revenue could return the club to the “1:1 rule,” allowing full use of wage savings.
2. Ter Stegen Injury Exemption – If La Liga accepts medical proof of a four-month absence, Barça could free 80% of his salary for new registrations.

The clock is ticking, with the club aiming to resolve matters within the next week. If they fail, Rashford, Garcia, and several others may watch the Mallorca opener from the stands.