Barcelona defender to depart for Saudi Arabia at no cost
Barcelona Defender Inigo Martinez Set to Join Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia
Reports have surfaced indicating that Barcelona’s veteran defender, Inigo Martinez, has reached an agreement to leave the club and join Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The 34-year-old has reportedly already secured a contract with the Saudi Arabian giants, marking a significant move for both parties.
Initial discussions between Barcelona and Al-Nassr hinted at Martinez’s potential departure, and now, according to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, the deal has been finalized. Martinez is expected to terminate his contract with Barcelona without any transfer fee involved, contrary to earlier reports suggesting an €8 million fee.
Iñigo Martínez believes that at his age, he can no longer play an entire season at the highest level. @esport3
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 7, 2025
Barcelona’s Defensive Options Post-Martinez Departure
With Martinez’s imminent departure, Barcelona will need to reassess their defensive line. Aymeric Laporte’s potential exit from Athletic Club has led Al-Nassr to target Martinez as his replacement. The Spanish international has been offered a lucrative one-year deal with an option for an additional year, which he has decided to accept, leaving Barcelona with a void to fill in their backline.
While Barcelona would have preferred a different defender to leave, Martinez’s departure will free up €8.4 million in their salary limit, enabling them to potentially register new signings such as Joan Garcia or Marcus Rashford.
According to Romano, Martinez had a clause in his contract allowing him to leave the club without a transfer fee. Barcelona had recently extended his contract with an option for an additional season, but his decision to depart has altered their defensive plans for the upcoming campaign.
🟡🔵 Info confirmed: Iñigo Martínez joins Al Nassr for free, no transfer fee at all.
There was a specific clause to allow his exit from Barcelona and Iñigo activated it.
His salary for upcoming season will be saved. ⤵️ https://t.co/S1XbaqokrS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 7, 2025
As Barcelona look to fill the void left by Martinez, manager Hansi Flick will have to choose from options like Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, or even Gerard Martin, who showcased his capabilities in the preseason. The club currently does not have plans to make a new signing to replace Martinez, signaling a shift in their defensive strategy for the upcoming season.
