Barcelona, the Spanish football giant, has announced its withdrawal from the Super League project, leaving Real Madrid as the only club still involved.

In 2021, 12 clubs began competing in the contentious breakaway competition.

The six Premier League clubs involved, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham, all withdrew in response to fan backlash.

Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, and Inter Milan would follow suit, leaving only Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Juventus withdrew in 2024, instead rejoining the European Football Clubs (EFC).

According to a club statement, “FC Barcelona informs that today it has formally communicated to the European Super League Company and the Clubs that have been involved in its withdrawal from the ESL project.”

The European Super League was unveiled in April 2021 as a breakaway competition designed to rival Uefa’s Champions League, built around a closed 20 team model.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta had claimed back in 2023 that he remained convinced a Super League would still be launched.

Last year, however, Laporta stressed that Barcelona were seeking to have closer ties with European football’s governing body UEFA.

‘We are committed to building bridges between the Super League and UEFA,’ Laporta said in October.

‘Barça’s position is clear. Those affected and those concerned are already aware of that. We are in favour of pacification because there is a way forward for the clubs in the Super League to return to UEFA.

‘We feel very close to UEFA and the EFC. It is important that we are there and that we implement everything that can be improved, both in UEFA and in the EFC.’

Barcelona’s withdrawal from the Super League comes four days after Laporta confirmed his board’s resignation ahead of standing for re-election in the club’s elections next month.