Barcelona director says club "can't sign any players" in January

Robert Lewandowski celebrates a goal for Barcelona in the Gamper Trophy against Pumas at Camp Nou.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Barcelona can't make any new signings in the January transfer window due to the club’s financial situation, director Jordi Cruyff has revealed.

The Catalan club activated several financial ‘levers’ over the summer, enabling them to make a string of high-profile acquisitions. 

Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen were among the new faces brought in to strengthen Xavi’s side.

However, the suggestion of further reinforcements arriving during the mid-season window has been shot down by Cruyff.

"As of today, we cannot sign [players] in the winter," Cruyff told RAC1 (via Sky Sports). 

"The situation has changed due to an accumulation of things that come together and make Fair Play complicated.

"It's not a question of one player leaving and [then the issue is] solved. There are several different solutions, one is not enough".

Barcelona went into the break for World Cup 2022 two points clear of rivals Real Madrid on top of the La Liga table. 

However, they suffered a disappointing group stage exit in the Champions League and have dropped into the Europa League, where they will face Manchester United in the play-off round in February. 

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.