Dembélé, Agüero, and Heurtel: three legal battles closing in on Barça

FC Barcelona once again finds itself at the center of the storm. On top of the financial problems that have haunted the club for years, three multimillion-euro lawsuits from former players now expose the fragile economic balance of the institution.
Ousmane Dembélé, Sergio “Kun” Agüero, and Thomas Heurtel are collectively demanding more than $17 million, a figure that could rise if the cases don’t go in the club’s favor.

Joan Laporta’s administration is facing one of its most stressful periods since his return to the presidency. While the club tries to stay competitive on the pitch and restructure its debt, these legal disputes are putting its reputation and finances at serious risk. What seems like a simple contractual disagreement actually reflects years of poor management and rushed decisions that continue to haunt Barça.

Dembélé and the millionaire dispute

The most high-profile case is that of Ousmane Dembélé, who, after leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, is demanding $11 million in unpaid fees.
His agent, Moussa Sissoko, claims that Barça breached the financial agreements tied to the player’s transfer. The conflict originates from the 2022 renewal, when the club, under pressure from “financial fair play”, had to register him as a new signing even though he was already part of the squad.

The lawsuit was filed in June 2024, and the trial is scheduled for December 2025. The club insists that the risk of losing the case is “low,” but the situation has once again called Laporta’s management and the club’s transfer dealings into question.

Agüero and Heurtel also want their share

Next on the list is Kun Agüero, who, after retiring due to heart problems in 2021, is demanding more than $3 million corresponding to his first year’s salary. The Argentine striker claims that the club’s insurance never covered his wages following the diagnosis that forced him to retire.
The trial is set for April 2027, and although Barça believes the risk of losing is “minimal,” the case exposes the contractual flaws during one of the most chaotic financial periods in the club’s recent history.

Meanwhile, former basketball player Thomas Heurtel is claiming $1.8 million in damages after a failed negotiation that would have seen him return to Barça Basket in 2025. The player maintains there was a verbal agreement canceled under Laporta’s direct orders, just as he was on his way to Barcelona. The trial date remains unconfirmed, but the case once again puts Barça’s basketball section under scrutiny.

Laporta between a rock and a hard place

For Joan Laporta, these lawsuits represent more than just legal challenges, they’re a direct blow to his credibility as a manager.
The club has not set aside financial provisions to cover potential losses, relying instead on favorable legal assessments. However, experts warn that if Barça loses, it could face immediate multimillion-euro losses that would worsen its already fragile financial state.

Laporta insists that these disputes are “a normal part of running a big club,” but the growing number of cases and discontent from former players could damage his image ahead of future elections.

With over $1.1 billion in debt, a demanding squad, and a wage bill stretched to its limit, Barça continues to live on the edge. The cases involving Dembélé, Agüero, and Heurtel are only the tip of the iceberg in a crisis that, far from ending, threatens to reopen old wounds.