Key Takeaways:
- Reports this week have linked Chelsea with a €50m bid for Fermin Lopez, while Barcelona have set an asking price of €70m for the midfielder.
- Chelsea have reportedly offered Lopez the possibility of earning €15m per year, significantly increasing his current €6m salary.
- Barcelona’s ongoing salary and registration issues have prompted the club to consider player sales, with Lopez granted 48 hours to decide on a potential move.
Transfer Negotiations: Chelsea Make Their Move
Barcelona have set a €70m price tag for Fermin Lopez, following reports that Chelsea have shown keen interest in acquiring the 22-year-old. While some sources from Spain claim that the Premier League side have already tabled a €50m offer, media in England suggest the London club are only weighing up a potential move at this stage.
The Spain international is considering his future at the Catalan club due to concerns over limited playing time and the opportunity to secure a much higher wage. Lopez is currently entitled to a €6m per annum wage at Barcelona, but Chelsea are reportedly willing to increase this to €15m annually. Should the deal materialise, this would make Lopez the third-highest paid player at Barcelona if he remained, representing a 150% wage increment.
🚨🚨🌕| Fermín López is giving serious thought to Chelsea’s proposal because:
• A guaranteed starting role
• A major salary boost
• Better chances of making the World Cup squad next year.[@sport] pic.twitter.com/XmP4fSCmdL
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) August 26, 2025
Barcelona’s Financial Constraints and Registration Dilemma
Barcelona continue to struggle with salary limit issues, impacting both their transfer dealings and squad registration. Currently, the club has been unable to register Gerard Martin, Wojciech Szczesny, and Roony Bardghji due to these constraints. As a result, the club has spent recent months offering Lopez to various clubs across Europe, employing a similar approach as taken previously with Marc Casado, Frenkie de Jong, and Ronald Araujo.
In addition, Barcelona have instructed Fermin Lopez to consider Chelsea’s offer, reportedly granting him a 48-hour window to reach a decision. Lopez is understood to be in the Balearic Islands reflecting on his future, having been given two days away from team training.
Context: Recent Sales and Squad Management
The club’s need to generate income through player sales is underscored by their transfer activities since the onset of major salary concerns following the global pandemic. Barcelona’s only significant sale in this period was the €50m departure of Ousmane Dembele, and these financial difficulties ultimately contributed to the inability to retain Lionel Messi.
Despite these challenges, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has expressed his desire to keep Fermin Lopez as part of his squad.
| Player | Current Club | Chelsea Reported Bid (€m) | Barcelona Asking Price (€m) | Current Salary (€m/year) | Chelsea Proposed Salary (€m/year) | Contract End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fermin Lopez | Barcelona | 50 | 70 | 6 | 15 | 2029 |
Additional Notes
Barcelona are also managing international commitments, requesting the Brazilian national team allow Raphinha to return to Spain early after Brazil meet Chile at the Maracaná. With Brazil already through to qualification, the Catalan side hope to spare Raphinha the physical demands of playing at El Alto’s 4,150m altitude in Bolivia.
