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Domestic domination, lethal attacking combinations, and decent success in the Champions League - FC Barcelona seems to have enjoyed itself in the past few years. Barcelona started the decade as the undisputed best team in the world, and it was always going to be an uphill task maintaining the aura of invincibility that Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova brought to the Catalan club.
To push their success into a state of relative perpetuity, most clubs explore two major avenues - youth prospects and big-money signings. The former has served Barcelona extremely well for decades, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez rising through the ranks at the famed La Masia academy.
When it comes to big-money signings, however, it is evident that a sound transfer policy is Barcelona's Achilles' heel.
Many of Barcelona's transfer targets have either failed to meet expectations or have just not been able to fit in at the club. Players like Andre Gomes and Philippe Coutinho arrived at the club with the world at their feet but were unable to make their mark at the Camp Nou. The jury is still out on the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Samuel Umtiti, who have not been able to fulfill their potential due to concerns with their fitness.
That being said, the Catalan club has managed bits and pieces of shrewd business over the past few years. Given the club's stature and financial muscle, driving a hard bargain is easier said than done, but the club has managed to pull off some absolute steals. A few others did not come cheap but have justified their price tag, given their sheer potential and compatibility with the club.
As the decade draws to a close, we count down the best transfer signings made by FC Barcelona over the past ten years, taking into account the money involved in the transfer, their impact on the team and the silverware they brought to the club.
Honorable mentions - Paulinho, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti
#10 Frenkie de Jong
To be a successful midfielder at FC Barcelona, you have to tick a lot of boxes. Frenkie de Jong is probably the only young player in the world who ticks all of them.
After a whirlwind transfer saga involving Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax's crown jewel decided to move to Barcelona for an initial fee worth €75 million. Based on the midfielder's potential, his style of play, and his performances last season, Barcelona might have pulled off one of their best transfers for years to come.
One look at de Jong on the ball makes it evident that he was born to play at the Camp Nou. An impeccable first touch, dribbling skills and an excellent eye for a pass are a few of the skills you must have to play alongside the likes of Messi and Busquets, and Frenkie de Jong seems to excel at all the right things.
He has not had the easiest of starts to life at Barcelona and has had to adapt his game to different positions in midfield as well as a variety of different team combinations used by Ernesto Valverde.
In spite of a few tactical hurdles, de Jong has been one of Barcelona's best players this season. The atmosphere at the club is ideal for a player of Frenkie de Jong's nature. With Sergio Busquets, an expert on positional play, by his side at all times, the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old Dutchman.
The Frenkie de Jong of Ajax who skipped past the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos with aplomb may not have become his best self at Barcelona yet, but given his talent, skill, and versatility, he will probably go down as one of the best signings in FC Barcelona's history.
The second coming of Johan Cruyff? Probably a touch too far at the moment. Success, however, is very nearly an inevitability for Frenkie de Jong.
Also check out: La Liga La Liga fixtures La liga table 2019-20
#9 Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic may be on his way out at Barcelona and currently spends a significant amount of his time on the bench but his first season at the club painted a very different picture.
The former Sevilla captain was bought by Barcelona for a fee of €18 million to rejuvenate an aging midfield, and the Croatian did just that. He made his official La Liga debut against Elche and made an immediate impact with an assist in the second half.
Rakitic's tenacity and work rate perfectly complemented the silk of Iniesta and Busquets, and his knack of scoring goals from the midfield made him a powerful asset to have. Rakitic also scored the opening in the Champions League final against Juventus in 2015. Barcelona won the game 3-1 and completed yet another incredible treble.
The next few years saw Rakitic adapt to a more defensive role in the midfield, and he often found himself playing as the lone defensive midfielder for the team. With the emergence of Frenkie de Jong and Arthur, Rakitic has found playing time hard to come by and may leave the club in the upcoming transfer window.
The Croatian's impact at the club may have diminished in the recent past but he has undeniably been an integral part of the club for the latter half of the decade. Rakitic may not be the most noticeable player on the pitch, but Barcelona will be grateful for his efforts over the past five years.
#8 Arthur Melo
Arthur Melo joined Barcelona from Brazilian club Gremio in the summer of 2019, for a fee of €31 million, with an additional €9 million in variables. Given his performances thus far, the club has got more than its money's worth.
For several fixtures in the 2018-19 season, Arthur was the best midfielder on the pitch. Widely regarded as the long-term successor to Xavi Hernandez, his presence in the midfield brings a calming effect to Barcelona's possession-based playing style, and his ability to switch the play and play lobbed passes to either flank make him an ideal foil for his highly talented teammates.
The Barcelona of old barely ever lost the ball, and Arthur is an embodiment of a philosophy that seems to have become less relevant at the club. The Brazilian is press-resistant, and his ability to hold on to the ball opens up several avenues for the other playmakers in the team.
In addition to his metronomic passing skills, Arthur also has an excellent right foot. His long-range effort against Villarreal is a testament to the fact that Lionel Messi is not the only player in this Barcelona side who cannot be afforded space and time by the opposition.
With Frenkie de Jong added to the squad this season, Arthur also has the added advantage of being able to share defensive and creative responsibilities with his talented peer. At only 23 years of age, Arthur has the ability and the skillset to make the Barcelona midfield his own for years to come.
#7 Cesc Fabregas
An integral part of La Masia's most talented batch of players in living memory, Cesc Fabregas was always destined to wear the Blaugrana's colors at some point in his career.
Most players who emerge from Barcelona's youth academy find it incredibly difficult to secure a spot in the first team. One either needs to be a generational talent à la Lionel Messi or needs to have luck on one's side to play for the team on a regular basis. Cesc Fabregas, like his teammate and friend Gerard Pique, found opportunities hard to come by and left for England in search of more playing time.
While Pique returned to his boyhood club in 2008, Fabregas spent a few more years in England sharpening his unique skill set as well as his leadership skills. He was appointed Arsenal's captain at only 21 years of age and was widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
The Spaniard's return to Barcelona was only a matter of time, however. Cesc Fabregas was the perfect fit for Barcelona's midfield and was widely considered the heir to Xavi and Andres Iniesta. After a considerably lengthy transfer saga, Fabregas finally made the switch to his boyhood club in 2011 for a fee of €34 million, with the player agreeing to pay Arsenal an additional €1 million from his own wages.
Fabregas took to the team like a fish to water, establishing telepathic relationships with Andres Iniesta and childhood friend Lionel Messi. In a very interesting period for Barcelona from a tactical point of view, Fabregas and Messi shared the responsibilities of the 'false nine', with the former racking up assists and the latter plundering goals at will.
It is no coincidence that Messi's record tally of 91 goals in 2012 overlapped with the former Arsenal captain's time at the club. Cesc Fabregas had an incredible first season at the club, with 15 goals and 20 assists in 48 appearances.
With the departure of Pep Guardiola, however, Fabregas found it difficult to cement a place in Barcelona's midfield and departed to Chelsea in 2014. Barcelona's boy wonder may not have become all that he was supposed to be, but his statistics and performances speak for themselves: Cesc Fabregas was definitely one of Barcelona's better transfer choices in the recent past.
#6 David Villa
David Villa may not have spent a significant number of seasons wearing a Barcelona shirt, but he was a crucial part of one of the best club teams in the recent past during his short stay at the club.
The Spanish striker was not able to play in his preferred central role at the club due to the presence of the indomitable Lionel Messi. Pep Guardiola used Villa on the left flank, and the change in position did not seem to hamper the striker's predatory instincts.
David Villa joined the Catalan club in 2010 from Valencia for a transfer fee of €40 million. He was no stranger to most of his teammates or the style of play and used his experience as Spain's premier striker to further strengthen his relationships with Xavi and Iniesta.
With Messi dropping into midfield to facilitate Barcelona's tiki-taka, Villa was afforded the space to do what he was good at: make runs in behind the defense and latch on to his teammates' exquisite passes.
The Spaniard was an integral part of Barcelona's three-pronged attack and linked up well with Messi and Pedro to effectively terrorize teams in Spain. David Villa scored a few stunning goals for the club, most notably including a curling effort against Manchester United in the Champions League final. His two goals in the 5-0 demolition of Real Madrid in 2010 will live long in the club's memory.
An injury to his tibia during the FIFA Club World Cup meant that David Villa spent most of the remainder of his time at the club on the sidelines. He left to Atletico Madrid the following season and went on to establish himself as a modern-day La Liga legend.
David Villa scored a total of 48 goals in 119 appearances for Barcelona, with several of his strikes playing a crucial role in victories against Real Madrid, AC Milan, Arsenal and Manchester United. With a return of two La Ligas and a Champions League in 3 years at the club, David Villa's time in Catalunya seemed to benefit all parties involved.
#5 Jordi Alba
A telepathic relationship with Lionel Messi is an excellent recipe for success at Barcelona, and Jordi Alba seems to understand the Argentine better than anyone else on the pitch.
The second player on this list to return to FC Barcelona after a La Masia education and a spell away from Catalunya, Jordi Alba arrived at the club from Valencia for a fee of €14 million. The marauding left-back has gone on to become a permanent fixture in Barcelona's defensive setup, and for good reason.
The young Spaniard made his presence felt with Valencia in the 2011-12 season, before exploding on to the scene with Spain's world-beating squad in the European Championship in 2012. An incredible winger's goal against Italy in the final caught Barcelona's attention, and the club brought their former youth product back home as a long-term replacement for Eric Abidal.
Nicknamed 'El Ferrari', Alba's sheer pace is difficult to handle, particularly on the overlap. Alba is usually the furthest forward on pitch for Barcelona and his teammates reap the rewards more often than not. Alba has recorded an impressive 48 assists during his time at the club.
Jordi Alba has been a major part of Barcelona's trophy victories this past decade. He has been an undisputed starter in the team for several seasons and is widely regarded as one of the best left-backs in the world.
Age may be catching up with Jordi Alba, but the opposition certainly isn't.
#4 Javier Mascherano
Arguably the most unlikely of all the transfer successes on this list, Javier Mascherano joined Barcelona from Liverpool for a fee of €24 million in 2010. At the time, the Argentine was brought in to be a handy back-up option for Sergio Busquets in Barcelona's talented midfield.
Contrary to all expectations, Javier Mascherano left the club in 2018 as one of Barcelona's most dependable defenders of the decade.
Sergio Busquets' imperious performances meant that he was an immovable object at the heart of Barcelona's midfield, and Javier Mascherano found playing time very difficult to come by. He spent most of his first season on the bench and made occasional appearances towards the fag end of the season as a center-back.
Injuries to club captain Carles Puyol meant that Mascherano had to step up, considering that he was the only other player in the squad with the experience and defensive panache to play as a center-back in the Champions League. After a rough transition phase, Mascherano forged a formidable partnership with Gerard Pique and played an important role in Barcelona's famous Champions League triumph against Manchester United in 2011.
As Carles Puyol inched towards the end of his playing career, Mascherano found himself playing almost every game with Gerard Pique in Barcelona's backline. Nicknamed 'El Jefecito' for his vocal and hands-on style of leadership, Mascherano became the de facto leader of the Blaugrana defensive line for the remainder of his time at the club.
Mascherano also used his passing skills very effectively, occasionally using long balls to pick out wingers, full-backs and even strikers with relative ease. The Argentine was never much of a goalscorer for the club. His only goal for the club came via a penalty he scored against Osasuna in 2017.
Javier Mascherano is also the only player on this list to have been a part of both Champions League triumphs over the past decade for Barcelona. He may not be the most illustrious player on the list, but played his role to perfection and stepped up whenever the team needed a leader on the pitch.
#3 Neymar
Much like his transfer sagas and most of his career, Neymar is a considerably controversial addition to a list such as this.
His love-hate relationship with the Barcelona board aside, Neymar's talent is undeniable. The Brazilian superstar was bought by Barcelona from Santos for a much-disputed fee of €94 million or thereabouts, and much like some others on this list, he took some time to get going in the red and blue of Barcelona. The game was played very differently in Spain, and Neymar did not find his first few weeks easy.
It was only a matter of time, however, before Neymar made the rest of the league dance to his tunes. On his day, the Brazilian was virtually unplayable. For the first time in 7 years, the Samba magic was there for all to see at the Camp Nou, and Ronaldinho would have been proud.
The 2014-15 season was arguably Neymar's best season, on a personal level. Widely considered the modern-day pinnacle of Brazilian flair, Neymar bamboozled defenders across Europe, scoring 39 goals in 51 appearances. He formed a lethal combination, dubbed "MSN", with fellow South Americans Messi and Suarez, and the trio combined to score an astounding 122 goals in the season.
There were several moments during his time in Barcelona which indicated that Neymar was Lionel Messi's heir apparent. In the 2014-15 season, Neymar added to his crucial goals in the semi-finals against Bayern Munich with yet another goal in the final against Juventus, finishing as the joint topscorer with established "best-in-the-world"s Messi and Ronaldo in the Champions League. Barcelona lifted the coveted trophy that year, and Neymar played a crucial role.
Building on his form and the relationships he had forged in his two seasons at the club, Neymar grew in stature at the club in the 2015-16 season, as "MSN" scored an astonishing 131 goals and Barcelona won yet another domestic double. The following season saw Barcelona crash out of the Champions League following a defeat against Juventus, but Neymar produced a performance for the ages in the round of 16.
'La Remontada', as the second leg of the game is popularly known, is arguably one of the most memorable games of the past decade. Barcelona overcame a deficit of 4-0 in the first leg to register a scintillating 6-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Nou Camp. Neymar was the best player on the pitch by far, scoring twice and assisting Sergi Roberto's incredible winner in a stunning eight-minute period. Moments like these made Neymar the club's new messiah.
Prophecies, however, do not always come to fruition, and Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017 for a monumental fee of €222 million, in what was the most expensive transfer in history. While debates surrounding Neymar's desire to return to Barcelona are dime a dozen, one thing is certain: Spanish defenders will not be looking forward to the tricks, flicks, elasticos, and sombreros.
#2 Marc-Andre ter Stegen
If the book 'How to be a World-Class Goalkeeper' was ever written and published as a training guide, it is exceedingly likely that the author would be a German.
Oliver Kahn, Jens Lehmann, Manuel Neuer - the list is impressive. Barcelona decided to secure the services of German shot-stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen from Borussia Mönchengladbach for a measly €12 million, and they will likely reap the rewards of their decision for years to come.
Ter Stegen found life difficult in his first two seasons at the club, as Luis Enrique preferred the more experienced Claudio Bravo in La Liga fixtures. The German goalkeeper was preferred in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, as Barcelona looked to hone him as a long-term option in goal.
Ter Stegen was slightly error-prone in his first season, but more than made up for it with some exceptional saves, including an incredible goal-line clearance against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Ter Stegen became the first choice keeper for the club in La Liga as well after Claudio Bravo left for Manchester City in 2016. His first season as an undisputed starter in the league saw some shaky performances, but the shot-stopper oozed potential.
Over the past two seasons, Marc-Andre ter Stegen has grown into one of the best goalkeepers in the world. The German has been the epitome of consistency at the Catalan club, and excellent performances against high-profile clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, and Tottenham hold him in high stead. His reflex saves are a stunning sight, and his ball-playing ability rivals that of compatriot Manuel Neuer.
This decade has been about growth and a steep learning curve for ter Stegen, and at only 24 years of age, he can look forward to dominating the next decade in goal. The German is already head and shoulders above most of his peers in the game and has the potential to further lengthen a long list of legendary German goalkeepers.
#1 Luis Suarez
FC Barcelona has made several high-profile signings over the past few years, and not all of them have hit the ground running. The same cannot be said of Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan striker signed for Barcelona from Liverpool for a rumored transfer fee of €82 million and was an instant hit.
Suarez was prolific in his first season at the club and scored 25 goals in 43 appearances, as Barcelona marched to a historic second treble. The Suarez of Liverpool was known for his audacity and confidence on the ball, and his performances in Catalunya, replete with nutmegs and bicycle kicks, proved that Luis Enrique had the Uruguayan performing at his best.
The 2015-16 season was far more fruitful for Luis Suarez on a personal level, as he scored an incredible 59 goals in 53 games in all competitions, outscoring teammate and modern-day legend Lionel Messi. Suarez won the Pichichi award in 2016 for his 40 goals in La Liga and became the first player apart from Messi and Ronaldo to win the award since the 2008-09 season.
Suarez was an integral part of the lethal "MSN", linking up famously well with Lionel Messi and Neymar to steamroll the best defenses into submission. Suarez took the burden of goal-scoring away from Neymar and Messi to a considerable extent, allowing them the space to thrive as creative impact players in the side.
Suarez is yet another player on that list who has an excellent relationship with the club's talisman, Lionel Messi. The duo has combined an insurmountable number of times to create and score for the club, and with Messi firing on all cylinders yet again this season, Suarez will look to thrive as well.
Age may not have taken too kindly to Luis Suarez, but while his pace and agility may not be what it once was, the Uruguayan regularly displays glimpses of his past self. His recent volley against Inter Milan is a testament to the fact that you can never rule him out as a goal-scoring threat.
The Uruguayan has, after all, scored an incredible 190 goals in Blaugrana colors and currently stands at 4th on their all-time top-scorers' list. The top spot is out of the question, courtesy a certain Lionel Messi, but second place is certainly up for grabs.
Rule Luis Suarez out of a contest at your own peril.
