Barcelona shift pre-season camp to UK Midlands amid international schedule constraints
The Spanish club has opted for a training base in Staffordshire over a transatlantic tour, providing a commercial boost to Championship side Birmingham City while navigating a fragmented squad.
Barcelona has established its pre-season training camp at St George’s Park in Staffordshire, bypassing traditional long-haul tours to the United States or the Far East. Manager Hansi Flick is using the Midlands facility to prepare the La Liga champions for the upcoming campaign.
The strategic pivot was driven by a congested international schedule. The club is missing eight players who recently achieved international triumph with Spain, including Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi and Dani Olmo.
Further depleting the roster are six other senior internationals. Absentees include Brazil’s Raphinha, France’s Jules Koundé, Uruguay’s Ronald Araújo, and England’s Anthony Gordon following his £80m move from Newcastle.
Despite these absences, the 30-man squad features new signing Karim Adeyemi, who arrived from Borussia Dortmund this summer. The group blends senior figures with youth prospects, including 17-year-old forward Orian Goren.
The arrangement delivers distinct commercial value to Birmingham City. The Championship club, which missed the play-offs last season, has engaged with Barcelona for months to elevate its global profile.
Birmingham’s promotion ambitions are heavily backed by chairman Tom Wagner and minority owner Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion. Hosting a European giant aligns with their strategy to attract broader investment and attention.
Barcelona will test their makeshift squad against Birmingham at St Andrew’s on Friday. A second friendly against Preston will take place behind closed doors at St George’s Park on Monday.
The club’s medical and transfer operations remain highly active. Midfielder Fermín López continues his recovery from a broken foot sustained in May, while Frenkie de Jong travelled with the squad despite a medial collateral ligament injury.
Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen also joined the travelling party. His inclusion comes despite widespread expectations of a loan move to Ajax, for which no agreement has yet been finalised.
Following the UK fixtures, Barcelona will travel to Italy on 8 August. They are scheduled to play two 45-minute matches against Nottingham Forest and Udinese in the Friuli Venezia Giulia tournament.
