End of Soap Opera: Fermin stays

The long-running transfer soap opera surrounding Fermín López (22) has come to an end. The midfielder from El Campillo has decided to continue at FC Barcelona, despite serious interest from Chelsea.

Chelsea’s strong pursuit of Fermín made the player briefly question his future. The English club tabled a €40 million plus bonuses offer, but Barcelona never considered it seriously. The Blaugrana valued him at €90 million, and most importantly, Fermín never asked to leave.

🚨 BREAKING: Fermin stays, it’s the end of this story. @ffpolo #Transfere 🔵🔴✅ pic.twitter.com/biYp4xYDax

— Reshad Rahman (@ReshadFCB) September 1, 2025

Deco’s Firm Stance: No Key Player Sales

Sporting director Deco had been clear throughout the summer: he did not want to lose quality players. Barcelona’s position was simple, unless Fermín personally requested a transfer, they would not entertain any offers.
Head coach Hansi Flick also made it clear he wanted to keep Fermín, considering him a vital part of the squad.

Competition in Midfield Sparked Reflection

Chelsea’s interest led Fermín to reflect on his role at Barcelona. In his preferred position as an attacking midfielder behind the striker, Flick already has several high-quality options:
Dani Olmo, signed last summer for a significant fee and a key figure for Spain.
Raphinha, who excelled last season and has also been tested in that central role.
On the left wing, where Fermín played more frequently last season due to Ansu Fati’s struggles, competition has intensified with the arrival of Marcus Rashford, alongside Raphinha.

No Transfer Request, No Departure

The decisive factor was that Fermín never asked to leave. Barcelona viewed the Chelsea offer as “out of market” and irrelevant given the player’s commitment to stay.
With his decision now final, the saga is over. Fermín is currently focused on his duties with the Spanish national team, and fans await his own version of events in the coming days.