Else Beekman
With Spain’s football season kicking off this weekend, chaos looms in La Liga and the Segunda División as more than half of this summer’s new signings remain ineligible to play.
Of the 283 players signed across the top two divisions, only 125 have been officially registered with La Liga. The remaining 158 are still waiting for clubs to free up space within their salary budgets to meet the league’s financial regulations.
Financial rules restrict registrations
La Liga has enforced strict financial controls for several years to ensure clubs remain financially sustainable. Each club is assigned a salary cap, calculated based on its income and overall financial health. This cap governs not only player wages but also the salaries of coaching staff and other personnel.
d=”1323″>The aim is to prevent clubs from overspending in pursuit of on-field success—a problem that has plagued Spanish football in the past.
Barcelona once again under pressure
FC Barcelona, who have faced repeated issues with player registration in recent years, are again under the spotlight.
d=”1764″>The reigning champions have yet to register summer signings Marcus Rashford, Joan García and Roony Bardghji, along with academy products Gerard Martin and Héctor Fort. Until existing players are sold or loaned out to create salary space, these new additions remain sidelined.
d=”1903″>Last season, Barcelona resorted to complex manoeuvres to register players such as Dani Olmo, and similar tactics may be required again.
Massive gap in salary limits
The disparity in allowed spending between clubs is stark. Real Madrid tops the list with a salary cap approaching €755 million per year. At the opposite end, Sevilla is restricted to just €684,000—a dramatic drop reflecting years of financial mismanagement.
As a result, Sevilla currently has only 15 players registered for their opening fixture against Athletic Club on Sunday. Ten others remain in limbo pending league approval.
Other clubs struggling with incomplete squads include Real Betis, Celta Vigo, Elche, Getafe and Levante. Even Real Madrid, despite its substantial budget, has yet to register all new players. Among those in doubt is 17-year-old Argentine talent Franco Mastantuono. He arrived from River Plate this summer in a €45 million deal.
Unless registrations are finalised in the coming days, several teams could begin their campaigns with depleted squads.
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