Barcelona Eye €175m Haaland Transfer in 2026 Amid Financial Boost

Barcelona are reportedly planning a blockbuster move for Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in 2026, aiming to raise €175m to activate the Norwegian striker’s release clause, according to El Nacional. The Catalan club, long linked with the 24-year-old, believes Haaland prefers them over rivals Real Madrid, a sentiment echoed in earlier reports from Forbes in 2024. Haaland, who has scored prolifically since joining City in 2022, is seen as a potential game-changer for Barça as they rebuild under Hansi Flick.

The pursuit comes on the heels of Barcelona’s new multi-year Nike deal, announced in November 2024 via ESPN, which president Joan Laporta claims is the biggest of its kind in football. This financial boost aims to ease the club’s ongoing economic woes, helping them operate within LaLiga’s €426m spending cap. However, doubts linger over the timeline—AS USA reported in January 2025 that Haaland’s new City contract, extended to 2034, only allows a release from 2029.

Fan reactions on X are mixed, with some Barcelona supporters thrilled at the prospect, while others question the feasibility, citing past struggles with similar high-profile signings like Zlatan Ibrahimović. Only time will tell if Haaland will don the Blaugrana jersey.