Barcelona spent €185 million this summer, missed out on the striker they actually wanted, and still scored 12 goals in their first three league games. That's either a sign of genuine depth — or a problem they haven't paid for yet.
The window closed September 2 with six new first-team additions and one enormous absence: Julián Alvarez, who stayed at Atlético Madrid after the clubs spent the entire summer in a standoff that Barça never looked like winning. The hierarchy's reluctance to move on to alternatives earlier will linger as a question mark, even if it hasn't hurt them so far.
As for what they did get — it's a mixed bag. Here's every signing, rated honestly.
The ones who can actually change things
Rodri — A
The signing of the summer, full stop. Rodri was expected to join Real Madrid. He chose Barcelona instead, citing their "way of understanding football and their values." Getting one over on Madrid is a nice bonus. Getting arguably the best controlling midfielder in world football is the actual point.
The ACL comeback concern has been answered at the World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball captaining Spain. He walks into this squad and immediately upgrades the midfield, even with Frenkie de Jong eventually returning. The only legitimate worry is fitness across a full season in which Barcelona will push deep in every competition.
Anthony Gordon — A
Barcelona chose Gordon over keeping Marcus Rashford — who contributed 29 goals and assists last season — and paid significantly more for the privilege. Early returns suggest they got it right. Gordon is younger, more relentless, and his energy has fit the Camp Nou instantly.
He got his own chant in the 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano, capped by a backheel assist that had the stadium buzzing. Mundo Deportivo called him the "Camp Nou's new idol." Supporters are calling him "Fat Tony" — a riff on the Spanish translation of his surname. Three games in and he already feels like a fixture, not an experiment.
Solid business, no fireworks
Joao Cancelo — B+
Cancelo was already here on loan for the second half of last season and impressed enough under Flick to earn a permanent deal after his Saudi contract was mutually terminated. At 32, he's not a starter — but he offers genuine cover on both flanks, defensive reliability that Alejandro Balde can't always provide, and a presence in training that younger players like Xavi Espart benefit from. Sensible, experienced squad depth. Nothing wrong with that.
Dominik Livaković — B
The Croatian keeper's registration wasn't confirmed until deadline day after last-minute financial maneuvering — there was a genuine possibility he'd be loaned out. He ended up staying as Joan García's backup, filling the gap left by ter Stegen's departure to Ajax. Livaković is 31, has a reputation as a penalty specialist with Croatia, and is unlikely to see much action. For the fee and the role, it fits.
Karim Adeyemi — C+
Adeyemi was supposed to be Germany's next breakout star. That wave has passed. Dortmund didn't even turn a profit on the €30 million they spent four years ago, which tells its own story. He arrives at Barcelona as a bench option behind Lamine Yamal — a player with electric pace (36.65 km/h in the Bundesliga) who can stretch games as an impact sub. Flick knows him well and gave him his Germany debut in 2021, which suggests there's a plan here. Whether Adeyemi can rediscover the form that once made him look like a future star is the question Barça are betting on.
The one that doesn't hold up
Gabriel Jesus — D
This is what happens when you spend the entire summer on one target and don't have a backup plan. Barcelona chased Alvarez, Atlético didn't blink, and with options running thin at the 11th hour, Jesus was the answer they landed on.
He's not a bad footballer. But in three seasons at Arsenal, he scored fewer goals each year — ending up below "Own Goals" on the Gunners' scoring chart. He's a bit-part player at this stage of his career, and the idea that he becomes a reliable starter for a club chasing Champions League glory in 2026-27 requires a leap of faith the evidence doesn't support.
Barcelona wanted a No. 9 who could win them a European trophy. They got one who hasn't started regularly in three years. That gap matters — and if it becomes a problem in the knockout rounds, this decision will be the first thing people point to.
