FC Barcelona will receive financial compensation for its youth academy work. FIFA is set to pay the club €90,000 for training and education rights, having classified it as a Category I club under its new system. This top-tier category acknowledges the highest financial investment in player development.
The classification is calculated using the annual cost to train a player multiplied by a 'player factor'. All European clubs under UEFA fall into a four-category system, while other confederations operate with only three. In South America, for instance, a Category I club would receive a maximum of €43,000, a figure notably lower than Barcelona's allocation.
This recognition arrives during a period of strong on-field performance for the first team. Barcelona sits top of La Liga with 18 points from six games, three points clear of Real Madrid, and is on a five-match winning streak.
The team travels to face fourth-placed Sevilla in its next fixture. Ahead of that match, the club is managing the absences of Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji, with updates available on the injuries page. The FIFA payment, while modest in professional football terms, validates the development model underpinning the current success.
First reported at Mundo Deportivo
