Putellas, Batlle and León are gone: what will be left of Barcelona after latest exodus?
Barcelona's Champions League-winning women's team is undergoing a second consecutive summer of major departures, with seven players leaving the squad and only one new signing arriving so far. The exodus is being driven by the financial fair play problems affecting Barcelona's men's team, which are having knock-on effects across the whole club, leaving the reigning European champions with a threadbare squad just days before pre-season training begins.
Among those departing are two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and fellow Spain internationals Ona Batlle, Mapi León and Salma Paralluelo, several of them leaving on free transfers. Putellas and León have both joined London City Lionesses in the Women's Super League, a competition that has absorbed 14 of Barcelona's last 19 departures since 2024, while Batlle has signed for Arsenal. With just 17 senior players currently registered, Barcelona are in talks to sign Manchester City's Kerolin, though the club's academy, which has previously plugged such gaps, is also losing key players, leaving question marks over how the squad will be reinforced before the new season.
In short
- Barcelona women's squad hit by second straight summer of major exits
- Putellas, Batlle and León among stars leaving, mostly to the WSL
- Departures linked to men's team's financial fair play troubles
Explained simply
Barcelona’s women’s team has been one of Europe’s strongest, winning the Champions League and relying on a mix of established internationals and academy graduates. Alexia Putellas, Ona Batlle, Mapi León and Salma Paralluelo have been among its prominent players.
The club is part of FC Barcelona, where financial fair play restrictions on the men’s side have affected spending across the wider organisation. The women’s squad has also lost several players in recent summers, while the academy has traditionally helped fill gaps in the first team.
These changes matter because Barcelona have a limited number of senior players available, and rebuilding a squad takes time. The Women’s Super League has become a frequent destination for departing players, while the club’s ability to recruit and promote replacements will shape its options in the seasons ahead.
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