La Liga has received consistent criticism of salary cap rules in recent years, and not just from club managers, who feel they are being prevented from spending as much as they like. Since the pandemic, La Liga has been relaxing some of the rules.
President Javier Tebas strongly defended the rules, noting that they achieve the main goal of preventing clubs from going out of business, which has become a major problem. Tebas also pointed out that all the clubs voted on the rules, thus they were agreed upon.
La Liga will again adjust the rules for the 2026-27 season
As reported by Diario AS, La Liga will introduce a number of changes to encourage more spending in the market. One of the changes will be that owners can invest an extra €2m (combined) in the academy and women’s clubs without it counting against their salary cap figures. Segunda teams will also be able to bypass the current rules of capping one player per window, as long as their salary is not more than 1.3 times their average salary.
Regarding the so-called economic levers, which means the sale of assets, if the clubs do not pay 75% of the money immediately, then La Liga will have the right to request an independence solvency report from the buyer. Owners are currently allowed to invest up to 25% of the club’s profits each summer, which was limited to €4m, but that figure has now been increased to €6m.
In addition, La Liga reduces the estimated salaries by 10% for players, depending on how it will be calculated in their salary cap. When players turn 36 (38 for goalkeepers), that limit will be removed, allowing for a reduction of up to €3m.
🚨 JUST IN: FC Barcelona are keeping an eye on Murillo as an option for next summer. The club rate his tactical qualities highly and feel that he would be a good fit for Hansi Flick’s system. [@joaquimpiera] 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/mqNQVNi2RC
– barcacentre (@barcacentre) December 24, 2025
A fix for the current season
In the spring it was announced that the players from this center will be allowed to renew their sides even if the club is more than their salary. La Liga has now limited that rule to players under the age of 24, and they must have spent at least three years at the club.
🚨🇳🇴 It is normal for Alexander Sørloth to stay at Atlético Madrid this winter.
However, Atleti will consider his departure if a good offer arrives. They are asking €35/40m.
[🎖️: @MatteMoretto, @RadioMARCA] pic.twitter.com/YPrwNmCjYJ– Atlético Universe (@atletiuniverse) December 24, 2025
In addition, sponsorship deals and merchandise sales that are paid for multiple years will only affect the salary cap for that season at the amount paid for that year. On the other hand, selling clubs will now be allowed to transfer the benefits of the deal to the calculation of the next season’s salary cap, allowing clubs to sell a player in the winter and use the profit in the following summer.
