La Liga adjust salary limit rules to incentivise further transfer activity

La Liga have come in for consistent criticism for their salary limit rules in recent years, not least from club chiefs, who feel they are being prevented from spending as they please. Since the pandemic, La Liga have been gradually loosening some of the rules.

President Javier Tebas has defended the rules vehemently, noting that it is achieving the primary goal of preventing clubs from going out of business, which had become a major problem. Tebas has also pointed out that all of the clubs vote on the rules, and thus is agreed by them.

La Liga to adjust rules again in 2026-27 season

As recorded by Diario AS, La Liga are set to introduce a number of changes to incentivise more spending in the market. One of the changes will be that owners can invest an extra €2m (combined) in the academy and in the women’s teams without it counting against their salary limit calculations. Segunda sides will also be able to skip the current rules of valuation for one player per window, provided their salary is not more than 1.3 times their average salary.

Regarding so-called economic levers, which is to say asset sales, if clubs are not paid 75% of the fee immediately, then La Liga will have the right to request an independence solvency report on the buyer. Currently owners are allowed to invest up to 25% of the club’s turnover each summer, which had been limited at €4m, but that figure has now been increased to €6m.

On top of that, La Liga limited wage cuts at 10% for players, in terms of how it will count towards their salary limit. If players are aged 36 (38 for goalkeepers), that limit will be removed, allowing for a reduction of up to €3m.

JUST IN: FC Barcelona are closely monitoring Murillo as an option for next summer. The club rates his tactical qualities very highly and feels he would be an excellent fit for Hansi Flick’s system. [@joaquimpiera] pic.twitter.com/mqNQVNi2RC

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) December 24, 2025

Adjustments to current season

In the spring, it was announced that players who come from the academy will be allowed to renew with their sides even if the club is over their salary limit. La Liga has now limited that rule to players under the age of 24, and must have spent at least three years at the club.

The normal thing is for Alexander Sørloth to stay at Atlético Madrid this winter.

However, Atleti will consider his departure if a good offer arrives. They are asking for €35/40m.

[: @MatteMoretto, @RadioMARCA] pic.twitter.com/YPrwNmCjYJ

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) December 24, 2025

In addition, sponsorship deals and asset sales that are paid for over multiple years will only impact the salary limit for that season by the amount paid for that year. On the other hand, clubs that make a sale will now be allowed to pass the profits of the deal into the following season’s salary limit calculation, allowing clubs to sell a player in winter and use the benefit the following summer.

The post La Liga adjust salary limit rules to incentivise further transfer activity appeared first on Football España.