Barcelona officially confirmed on Saturday the departure of center-back Iñigo Martínez, who will continue his career with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.

"We sincerely want to thank him for his professionalism, effort, dedication, and commitment during the two seasons he wore our shirt. We wish him much success in the future. Thank you for everything, Iñigo," the club said in a statement.

A Farewell Bound for Saudi Arabia

Iñigo Martínez bid farewell to his teammates at Barcelona on Friday before traveling to the Middle East to sign with Al-Nassr. The defender, who last season formed the starting center-back partnership with Pau Cubarsí, had recently renewed his contract with a clause allowing him to leave as a free agent if a significant offer came from Saudi football.

That offer arrived this summer, and the player decided to take it. During his farewell, as he collected his belongings from the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, president Joan Laporta was present to greet him personally alongside the rest of the squad.

The departure of the Basque defender also has a positive financial impact for Barcelona, as it will free up approximately €14 million in salary mass, which should allow the registration of goalkeeper Joan Garcia for the upcoming season.

A Leader in Defense and the Locker Room

Since his arrival, Iñigo Martínez became an important figure both on and off the pitch, earning the respect of his teammates and serving as a mentor for the younger players. His leadership and experience were key for the team during the two seasons he wore the blaugrana shirt.

With his exit, Barcelona’s center-back options include Pau Cubarsí, Ronald Araújo —recently named captain—, Andreas Christensen, and Eric Garcia. The latter spent much of last season playing as a right-back, a position also occupied by Frenchman Jules Koundé, who originally joined the club as a central defender.

The departure of Iñigo Martínez marks the end of a chapter and opens a new opportunity for Barcelona to reorganize its defense, while the player begins a fresh challenge in the competitive Saudi league alongside other international stars.