Key Takeaways:
- Barcelona are actively seeking a defensive reinforcement on loan, rather than a permanent signing, during the January transfer window
- Andreas Christensen’s injury has opened the door for the club to utilise the La Liga emergency injury rule, with available salary limit space
- Manchester City’s Nathan Ake has been linked, but a permanent deal is not viewed as viable for Barcelona at this time
Barcelona’s Defensive Dilemma
Following the recent setback of losing Andreas Christensen to injury, Barcelona find themselves with just six fit defenders. Head coach Hansi Flick is eager to strengthen the backline in January, as the club attempt to manage squad depth and minimise the risk of further overload on available players.
La Liga Emergency Injury Rule Comes Into Play
Christensen’s absence provides Barcelona with an opportunity to activate La Liga’s emergency injury rule. This regulation permits clubs to register a replacement by using up to 80% of the injured player’s salary limit space, if the injury is deemed significant. Although this would temporarily ease the current salary constraints, any amount used now would count against Barcelona’s salary calculations for the following season.
🚨 NEW: Stefan de Vrij and Nathan Ake are both on Barça's shortlist for the center-back position.
— @mundodeportivo pic.twitter.com/liOfPM3ljk
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) December 30, 2025
Loan Policy and Transfer Strategy
According to Sport, Barcelona have opted against pursuing a permanent transfer in the winter window, focusing instead on loan signings to bolster the squad. Director of Football Deco has highlighted the difficulty in securing good value during January, prompting the club to emulate the so-called ‘Rashford formula’ – seeking high-calibre players short of minutes at their respective clubs. The intention is to recruit an immediate contributor through a temporary arrangement, rather than a long-term acquisition.
However, constraints remain. Despite being eligible to use up to 80% of Christensen’s salary, Barcelona reportedly plan to utilise just 40% of it for any January signing, further narrowing their options in the market.
Barcelona are mindful of learning from past missteps, such as the underwhelming loan of Jeison Murillo in January 2019, when a €1.2m loan fee was paid for a player who struggled to make an impact. The club is determined to avoid repeating that scenario with any prospective new arrival.
Rumours and Future Priorities
Speculation has linked Manchester City’s Nathan Ake with a move to Barcelona. Nevertheless, the European champions are believed to favour a permanent transfer for the Dutch international, which does not align with Barcelona’s current approach. While central defence remains a key area for long-term reinforcement – potentially in 2026 – the club seem set to wait until the summer before pursuing a permanent solution.
