When Barcelona were European champions back in the summer of 2015, they surprisingly offloaded seven players from their roster—so whatever happened to these athletes who left the Spanish powerhouse club?
After securing the Champions League victory, Luis Enrique brought aboard players such as Aleix Vidal and Arda Duran. Although Barcelona failed to defend their European crown, they managed to clinch both La Liga and the Copa del Rey titles consecutively for another season.
In 2015, Barca said goodbye to seven players, and largely speaking, these departures proved to be the correct decisions. However, what has become of those players since then?
Xavi
In 2015, Xavi declared his exit and promptly signed with the Qatari club Al-Saad, remaining with them until he retired four years after joining.
In 2019, the legendary midfielder took over as manager at Al-Saad, captivating Barcelona supporters with his team's fluid style of play.
It seemed only a matter of time before he took over as Barca's leader, and no one was astonished when Xavi came back to Camp Nou in November 2021.
In 2023, he claimed victory in La Liga, yet found it difficult to leave a significant mark in European competitions and subsequently departed from the team when his contract expired after the 2023-24 campaign.
Gerard Deulofeu
The initial addition to Ernesto Valverde's squad during his tenure began in the summer of 2017, roughly two years since his departure from the club. Barcelona triggered a buyout clause included in Deulofeu’s agreement with Everton, bringing him back to the Catalan team for slightly more than £10 million.
However, by January 2018, he had only managed to make 10 La Liga appearances before returning to England, where he joined Watford on loan initially and later signed permanently.
The Spanish player moved from Watford to Udinese — with both clubs under the ownership of the Pozzo family — however, he has not played any matches since early 2023 because of a severe knee injury.
Udinese ended his contract in January 2025.
Ibrahim Afellay
The anticipation around the Dutch winger when he joined Barcelona in 2010 was significant. Nevertheless, he found himself with limited playing time during his tenure in Spain before being transferred to Stoke City after going through successive loan periods.
Throughout his career, injuries appeared to constantly plague the Dutch player, leading him to retire prematurely at the age of 34.
What I desired did not occur," Afellay stated when he retired. "However, I am content with how things turned out. You understand that such moments arrive eventually. This is for the best.
At 38 years old, the ex-Barcelona wing player currently serves as an analyst for Dutch network NOS.
Pedro
You might know that Pedro continues to play for Lazio, the Rome-based team managed by Maurizio Sarri, which has advanced to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.
He has even netted 10 goals in 33 matches so far this season up until 2024-25.
But, come on. Pedro? The 2010 World Cup winner? Cornerstone of Guardiola’s attack at Barcelona? Played for Chelsea under Jose Mourinho? That Pedro?
We're incredibly impressed that the 37-year-old is still competing.
Alen Halilovic
Promoted as Barcelona’s equivalent of Martin Odegaard due to being signed as a highly gifted young player, Halilovic has not managed to fulfill his potential in the same manner as Arsenal’s captain.
The Croatian midfield player did not play in La Liga for Barcelona and was transferred to Hamburg after two years. He has since played for AC Milan, Birmingham, and Reading.
Halilovic is just 28 years old and is presently suiting up for the Eredivisie club Fortuna Sittard.
Denis Suarez
We could delve into the specifics of the Spanish midfielder's erratic career trajectory - marked by numerous loan spells, complex buyback clauses, and unfulfilled promises - but suffice it to say that Suarez has found it difficult to settle down. This was particularly evident during his multiple periods at Barcelona.
He made more than a hundred appearances for Celta Vigo, but just as it seemed like he had found stability, he was transferred to Villarreal. His career could be aptly described as nomadic.
Adama Traore
Nobody could have foreseen that the swift-winged player from Barcelona’s La Masia academy would follow the career trajectory he has taken up until now.
His initial and sole La Liga match for Barcelona was an outing where he came on for Neymar in their 4-0 victory against Granada back in November 2013.
At only 17 years of age back then, he never played in another league game.
He has since played for Tim Sherwood’s Aston Villa and Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough before rising to prominence at Wolves as a lightning-fast winger known for being oiled down like a young athlete.
Traore had a short loan stint with Barcelona in the 2021-22 season, despite the fact that the La Liga powerhouse chose not to offer him a permanent contract. Currently, Traore both frustrates and excites fans equally as he plays for Fulham.