Per Body: Barça’s digital business Barça Vision is valued at 178 million euros, previously valued at 408 million euros

According to media reports, Barcelona digital business company Barça Vision has continued to cause problems since 2022.

At that time, the club’s board of directors decided to create this company and incorporate part of its digital business, Metaverse, tokens and NFTs. The company was valued at 408 million euros and subsequently sold 49% of its shares to socios.com and Orpheus Media, owned by Jaume Roures, for 100 million euros each.

"La Liga has set up many obstacles for us in terms of fair play rules, forcing us to create this lever." A person familiar with the matter revealed. In fact, it was through Barça Vision that Barcelona were able to register the newly signed Kounde, preventing the French player, who had just transferred from Sevilla for 50 million euros, from leaving the team for free.

Despite the initial positive impact, the situation then took a turn for the worse. Barcelona received 10 million euros from each partner in 2022, but the payment plan was not completed on time, resulting in having to find new investors in 2023. Vestigia came on board through Nipa, paying 20 million euros; while Libero failed to deliver on its promised 40 million euros.

Last summer, Aramark took over part of Libero's arrears (25 million euros), and at the same time the club repurchased the shares held by Orpheus Media, thus increasing its shareholding ratio to 53%. In the summer of the same year, the club's auditor Grant Thortorn recommended a provision of 141 million euros for uncollected and receivable amounts, resulting in a loss of 91 million euros in the 2023-24 financial year, and the value of shares not held by Barcelona was only 55 million euros. The auditors also said the value of Barcelona's stake should be reassessed, but the board objected to this.

Barcelona had stated that they would be looking for new investors during the season, but this plan did not materialize. With the end of the 2024-25 season, the club's economic department, working with the new auditor Crowe and on the advice of Ernst & Young (EY), carried out a revaluation of Barça Vision. Ultimately, Barça Vision was valued at €178 million, with Barcelona recording an exceptional loss of €65 million in its latest financial year. In addition, auditors adjusted the previous financial year's financial statements to increase losses by €90 million due to Bridgeburg's depreciation.

Currently, Barça Vision is valued at 178 million euros, with Barcelona holding 53% of the shares and the remaining shareholders including Vestigia, Aramark and socios.com. In February this year, Barça Vision was absorbed by Barça Produccions, resulting in an additional loss of 12 million euros in the 2024-25 financial year. Three existing shareholders also received a portion of Barça Produccions' different assets (such as Barça Studios, Barça Games and eSports). The club intends to find a new partner but is in no rush and no longer has a financial imperative.

"Our goal is to develop a business plan and find first-class partners, rather than just find an investor. In fact, we can find a partner who does not acquire shares." Barcelona explained.

If new investors join, the funds they invest will become the club’s income. The business plan is being implemented by the Identity Department headed by Paloma Mikadze.