It's probably fair to say Barcelona's behaviour in the transfer market has led to some frowned eyebrows across the world.
Financial problems made it hard for the Catalans to register new players recently, yet at the same time they were spending large amounts on new, high-profile players.
Just in the summer of 2022 alone they brought in the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha for significant sums.
Their willingness to spend big is not necessarily new, though, even if it's not always been the most successful approach.
Just think Philippe Coutinho. Expensive star signing not too long ago, Aston Villa player now. Or Antoine Griezmann. Another expensive star signings. Another player now plying his trade elsewhere again.
In short, Barcelona's transfer activity has been hit and miss.
Barcelona most expensive transfers by season
Season | Most expensive signing | Fee | Total spending |
2022/23 | Raphinha | €58M/£52.20M | €153M/£137.70M |
2021/22 | Ferran Torres | €55M/£49.50M | €69.50M/£62.55M |
2020/21 | Miralem Pjanic | €60M/£54M | €112M/£100.80M |
2019/20 | Antoine Griezmann | €120M/£108M | €298.50M/£268.65M |
2018/19 | Malcom | €41M/£36.90M | €141.10M/£126.99M |
2017/18 | Philippe Coutinho | €135M/£121.50M | €365.10M/£328.59M |
2016/17 | Andre Gomes | €37M/£33.30M | €124.75M/£112.28M |
2015/16 | Arda Turan | €34M/£30.60M | €51M/£45.90M |
2014/15 | Luis Suarez | €81.72M/£73.55M | €166.72M/£150.05M |
2013/14 | Neymar | €88M/£79.20M | €101M/£90.90M |
2012/13 | Alex Song | €19M/£17.10M | €33M/£29.70M |
2011/12 | Cesc Fabregas | €34M/£30.60M | €60M/£54M |
2010/11 | David Villa | €40M/£36M | €72.50M/£65.25M |
2009/10 | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | €69.50M/£62.55M | €113.50M/£102.15M |
2008/09 | Dani Alves | €35.50M/£31.95M | €96M/£86.40M |
2007/08 | Thierry Henry | €24M/£21.60M | €68.50M/£61.65M |
2006/07 | Gianluca Zambrotta | €14M/£12.60M | €31M/£27.90M |
2005/06 | None | Nil | Nil |
2004/05 | Samuel Eto'o | €27M/£24.30M | €78.50M/£70.65M |
2003/04 | Ronaldinho | €32.25M/£29.03M | €43.85M/£39.47M |
2002/03 | Juan Roman Riquelme | €10M/£9M | €19M/£17.10M |
2001/02 | Javier Saviola | €35.90M/£32.31M | €95M/£85.50M |
2000/01 | Marc Overmars | €29.30M/£26.37M | €82.40M/£74.16M |
TOTAL | €2.38B/£2.14B |
*All figures are taken from Transfermarkt unless stated otherwise.