Barcelona Terminate Contract of Midfielder Oriol Romeu

BARCELONA, Spain – FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with midfielder Oriol Romeu to terminate his contract, the club announced in an official statement on Tuesday. The move ends the 33-year-old’s second spell at the Camp Nou after a single season in which he featured sparingly.

Romeu, who returned to Barcelona from Girona in 2023 on a contract running until 2026, was limited to just 1,434 minutes of playing time across all competitions. Initially viewed as a potential long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets, the defensive midfielder failed to secure a consistent starting role under managers Xavi Hernández and his successor, Hansi Flick.

The mutual termination is understood to be a strategic financial decision by the club, aimed at creating much-needed salary cap flexibility. The freed-up space is expected to facilitate the registration of promising academy products, such as Gerard Martín, and provide additional maneuverability in the transfer market.

Now a free agent, Romeu faces an uncertain future as he enters the latter stages of his career. Opportunities may arise in leagues with less demanding physical requirements or with clubs outside of Spain’s top flight. His departure marks another step in Barcelona’s ongoing effort to restructure an aging squad and alleviate financial pressures.