Barcelona sell Torrents to Ajax permanently but retain buy-back clause and 50% resale stake

Barcelona have confirmed the permanent sale of left-back Jofre Torrents to Ajax, with the deal including a buy-back clause and a 50% share of any future transfer fee, according to Mundo Deportivo. The move, worth up to €5 million, is expected to deliver a net accounting benefit of that figure for the Catalan club.

The transfer marks a shift from what was originally discussed. Ajax first approached Barcelona about a loan at the end of last season, attracted by Torrents’ profile as a La Masia product who had already broken into the first team. Barcelona found the idea appealing given the competition for places, but the clubs ultimately agreed on a permanent arrangement — one that Barcelona manager Hansi Flick shaped to preserve a route back to the player.

Flick’s influence is cited as the reason Barcelona insisted on the protective clauses rather than allowing a clean exit. The German coach is said to believe in Torrents’ long-term potential, even as the squad’s depth at left-back makes regular minutes at Camp Nou unrealistic in the near term. Alejandro Balde’s presence and the probable arrival of João Cancelo effectively close the door on consistent first-team football for the 20-year-old this season, while Barça Atlètic in the Segunda Federación is considered too low a level for his continued development.

Torrents made four first-team appearances during the 2024-25 campaign, splitting time between Flick’s squad and Barça Atlètic. He started at left-back in Barcelona’s pre-season friendly against Birmingham City — filling in while Balde was injured and Gerard Martín was used at centre-back — and had previously been one of the standout performers on the club’s pre-season tour of Korea and Japan. His La Liga debut came on the opening day of last season at Mallorca.

In Amsterdam, Torrents will link up with former Barcelona teammate Marc-André ter Stegen. Barcelona’s official statement thanked the academy graduate for his commitment, professionalism and dedication, and wished him well in the next chapter of his career.

The buy-back option and resale percentage ensure that if Torrents develops into a significant player at Ajax, Barcelona retain both a financial return and the option to bring him back to Catalonia.