Introduction
Although Barça has made a plethora of terrible transfers in recent years (under the Bartomeu presidency) which include the likes of Aleix Vidal, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Douglas, Phillipe Coutinho, Miralem Pjanić, Paco Alcácer, Neto, Arda Turan, and André Gomes; they have still made a multitude of great transfers which have transformed the club into one of the most feared clubs in Europe again.
Today, I will be ranking Barça's top 5 best transfers since 2015.
Number 5 - Jules Koundé
Since his transfer from Sevilla in 2022 for a fee of $51 million, Koundé has impressed the Barça supporters to say the least. In the 2022/23 season, his vital involvement in the iconic BACK (Balde, Araújo, Christensen, Koundé) defense led Barça to their 27th La Liga title, letting in only 20 goals throughout the 38 game La Liga season.
Since then, Koundé's game has evolved to a different level. With Lamine Yamal on the wing, Koundé has formed a great partnership with him on the right flank, allowing them to create space and toy with defenders at times. In the 2024/25 season, as of February 14, Jules Koundé has managed 3 goals and 7 assists in all competitions, displaying his growth in the attacking sector. This has allowed him to transform into one of the greatest right-backs in the world. Overall, he has trasnformed Barça's backline, and whether they decide to keep him or move him on in the future, he has proven well-worth the $51 million Barça have paid for him. Additionally, if he does not leave on a free in 2027, Barça will likely get more than they paid for him if they do decide to move him on (although this seems unlikely as Hector Fort has not won the admiration of Hansi Flick).
Number 4 - Robert Lewandowski
Upon his arrival for a fee of $46 million in 2022, Robert Lewandowski seemed at face value an odd transfer. At 33 years of age (at the time), he did not fit in with Barça's young squad and his ability to keep up his level of output in future seasons seemed unlikely; however, in hindsight he has proven me and many others wrong.
Since joining the club, he has managed 90 goals in two and a half seasons: a brilliant return for a player turning 37 years old this summer. While his general play may not be great at times, the stats speak for themselves. Additionally, his tendency to drop deep and create in recent games has proven vital for Barça, especially in the most recent 2-5 Clasico victory. In conclusion, he was the goal machine Barça needed after the departure of Lionel Messi, and he has lived up and even surpassed the expectations many held for him.
Number 3 - Ronald Araújo
Ronald Araújo joined FC Barcelona for a fee which totaled $6 million in 2018, leaving Uruguayan club Boston River. Initially, he joined Barcelona B before making his debut for the first team in 2019 against Sevilla.
Since his debut, he has blossomed into a truly elite center-back. Getting past him is a nightmare for attackers (such as Vinícius Júnior) considering his speed and strength. On top of that, he is a great leader, and has a great aerial ability which allows Barça to defend against incoming corners and crosses. Despite his strengths, he does still have his weaknesses such as his susceptibility to injuries. However, he is still only 25 and just recently signed a contract extension through to 2031, meaning he will likely be at Barça for many years to come (if his release clause is not activated) and will have time to recover and build momentum following these injuries. For $6 million, Ronald Araújo was an absolute bargain for FC Barcelona.
Number 2 - Raphael Dias Belloli (Raphinha)
A player I have already written an article about before (Raphinha Article), Raphinha is truly one of a kind. Barça signed Raphinha from Leeds United in 2022 in a deal worth around $58 million. In his first two seasons at the club, he helped Barça lift the Supercopa de España and the La Liga title. Furthermore, his performances were solid, and his most iconic ones came against PSG in the UEFA Champions League.
In 2024/25, Raphinha has transformed himself. Amid rumors of Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao joining FC Barcelona in the summer, Raphinha knew he had to prove himself to Barça fans, and this season he has done just that. In 35 games, Raphinha has managed 24 goals and 15 assists, with 6 of these goals coming in games against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. These amazing performances have placed him firmly in the race for the 2025 Ballon D'or, which he will surely win if Barça achieve European glory this season. Ultimately, Raphinha was a costly transfer for a financially struggling FC Barcelona; however, he has fully managed to justify that price tag since his arrival at the club.
Number 1 - Pedro González López (Pedri)
The easiest pick of the bunch, Pedri is an absolute gem. He arrived at FC Barcelona from his boyhood club of Las Palmas in 2019 for a total fee of $23 million. Pedri went on to make his debut for the club on September 27, 2020 in a La Liga match against Villarreal CF.
Since then, he has grown into the greatest midfielder in world football. With him staying healthy so far during the 2024/25 season, we have seen Pedri play football at a level we have not seen a Barça midfielder play at since Iniesta left in 2018. This includes mesmerizing performances against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League and Atletico Madrid in La Liga. And still, at 22 years of age and with room to grow even further, who knows how good he will become? With a relatively low transfer fee and magical performances week in week out, Pedri is my number one Barça transfer of the last decade.
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