Bhavya DasBarcelona has officially announced a transaction worth €100 million ($102.9 million), in which the Spanish soccer giants would give up a 24.5% ownership in its internal Barça Studios content centre to Orpheus Media, a production business led by Catalan media billionaire Jaume Roures. The transaction follows one similar to it with Socios that was finalised last month. That agreement involved a comparable price and stake in the business, valuing Barça Studios at €400 million (US$411 million).
The deal is the club’s fourth capital infusion through what club president Joan Laporta refers to as “economic levers” meant to strengthen Barca’s financial position and sign players who will fall within the LaLiga salary ceiling for the 2022–23 season. Barca claims that the agreement was reached with the consent of its members and was approved by the general assembly in October 2021.
Although this monetary infusion will make it simpler for some new players to be formally available for selection, the club did not clarify that this fourth lever would allow them to register every new recruit with La Liga.
Enlightening about the deal, a club statement said:
“FC Barcelona announces the sale of 24.5% of Barça Studios to the company Orpheus Media, managed by Mr. Jaume Roures, an audiovisual production company with a long history of producing content, for €100 million. The agreement complements the one signed on 29 July with Socios.com and will help to accelerate the growth of the club’s digital, NFT and Web 3 strategy.
“The sale was conducted under authorization of the General Assembly of FC Barcelona Members last October 23. With this investment the strategic partners in Barça Studios show confidence in the value of the project and the future of digital content in the world of sport.”
