Real Betis rejected an offer from Everton for winger Abde on transfer deadline day, a decision that denies FC Barcelona a significant financial windfall. According to Mundo Deportivo's report on Tuesday, the English club's proposal was worth €43 million, with €35 million fixed and the rest in add-ons, but it fell short of the player's €60 million release clause.
FC Barcelona, who retain approximately 20% of the player's economic rights, would have benefited from that sell-on fee had the deal gone through. The Blaugrana, who top La Liga with 9 points from three wins in three games, now face their next fixture against Valencia on September 6th with their squad finalized. You can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
What offer did Betis reject for Abde?
Everton's formal bid arrived in the final hours of the transfer window. The Liverpool-based club presented a total offer of €43 million for the Moroccan international. The deal's structure included a guaranteed upfront payment of €35 million, supplemented by an additional eight million euros dependent on achieving certain sporting objectives.
This figure, although substantial, was well below the player's release clause in his Betis contract, which stands at €60 million. The Betis board considered the proposal insufficient and chose to retain a key attacking element for the current campaign. Barcelona, who closely monitor the progress of their former academy players, thus miss out on income of around €8.6 million that their percentage would have represented.
What other moves happened on deadline day?
The transfer deadline day also brought movement in other directions related to the Seville club. Dani Ceballos returned to Betis and signed a three-year contract, strengthening the midfield. In the opposite direction, youngster Pablo García was transferred to Racing Santander for €5.5 million.
Betis retains 50% of the player's rights and included a buy-back option in the operation. For García, the move means a salary four times higher than what he earned at the Verdiblanco club. Other players like Deosssa, Iker Losada and Fidalgo ultimately did not leave, although they could still depart for markets that remain open, such as Mexico's, whose deadline is September 11th.
How does this affect Barcelona currently?
The collapse of Abde's sale represents a missed income opportunity for FC Barcelona, who closely monitor the value of their sell-on clauses. Xavi Hernández's team is tackling the season with excellent early form, having scored 12 goals and conceded just two in their first three matches, giving them a +10 goal difference.
This defensive and offensive solidity is reflected in the standings, where they occupy first place with a perfect record. The next challenge will be a visit to Mestalla to face Valencia, currently 16th in the table. The match, scheduled for September 6th, will be another test for a team looking to maintain its positive streak. The current squad, which you can review in the squad section, must face this challenge without new additions after the market closed.
Club América of Mexico's interest in player Deosssa could be revived before September 11th, the final date of the Mexican market. Meanwhile, Betis faces the season with Abde in their ranks and Barcelona remains attentive to future operations that could activate their sell-on percentages. The Blaugrana will play their next official match on September 6th, 2026 at Mestalla.
