Barcelona finally register Dani Olmo but at what cost?

Barcelona have finally managed to register star signing Dani Olmo two weeks after signing from RB Leipzig for €55m plus €7m in variables. He has had to sit out the first two games of the season against Valencia and Athletic Club as the Blaugrana could not fit him into their salary limit.

They have not been able to do that, but they have found a way to register Olmo. The 26-year-old is set to be available for their next match on Tuesday night against Rayo Vallecano at Vallecas. Relevo say La Liga have accepted Barcelona registering Olmo as an emergency injury signing to compensate for Andreas Christensen‘s absence.

If Christensen returns earlier, which is expected, he will be eligible to play alongside Dani Olmo, who would be registered until December 31st. However, if Barça fail to generate sufficient fair play during this period, Olmo will be unable to play again and won't be eligible for…

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 26, 2024

Despite the Danish defender initially only being ruled out for one month, Barcelona have medical reports saying that he will miss as much as four months through his Achilles’ tendon problem, an isssue he has suffered from before.

Olmo can be registered using 80% of Christensen’s salary space towards that end, and the Danish defender will be permitted to play as well. However Barcelona must find the space to register Olmo in their salary limit by the January transfer window, or they will have to unregister the Terrassa native. As clubs cannot register players twice, Olmo would not be allowed to play for the rest of the season.

While the important for Olmo and Barcelona is that they have found a way to have him available as soon as possible, their method is hardly a return to the sustainability that President Joan Laporta promised.