Barcelona's transfer ban for breaking FIFA's strict rules on signing underage players has now officially ended as the January transfer window opens.
Barcelona have been unable to register new players since the summer of 2014 after FIFA found the club guilty of breaching their guidelines for the signing of players who are under the age of 18. The ban has hung over the club for around two years but it only came into effect last January as Barcelona appealed the initial ruling. However, all their appeals failed and the Catalan giants were unable to register new players throughout 2015.
The ban hasn't hurt the club too much with Luis Enrique's side winning five trophies in 2015 but there were occasions when the squad was extremely stretched and this perhaps had a bigger impact on Barcelona B who are now struggling in the relegation zone of the Segunda B. The B team have been quick to make some new signings now that the ban has ended and they will be hopeful of maintaining their place in the third teir of Spanish football.
Despite being unable to register players Barcelona did make two new signings in the summer although neither have been able to make their debut yet. Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan arrived to boost the European champions and they will be eligible to play from next Monday. Barca had initially thought they would be eligible for Saturday's derby with Espanyol but as New Year's Day is a holiday in Spain the RFEF's (Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol) offices are closed and the players can't be registered on time.
Where will they fit in?
With Barcelona the current Spanish, European and World champions there's good reason for wondering where Vidal and Arda will fit in. It's likely that they will take some time to get up to full fitness so their time on the field will be limited. However, both are capable of playing in several positions so they will be a huge help to Luis Enrique as the club look to retain the trophies they won last year. Vidal will primarily be a right back but he could cover in midfield and even in a wide role further forward. Arda's main role will be in midfield but he could also provide cover further forward should any of the forwards get injured, suspended or need a rest.
Will Barca sign anyone else?
The club have been linked with a move for another forward but the finances seem to be quite restricted at the moment and it seems they want an experienced forward on the cheap. However, with Arda now available and any possible new signing being fifth choice at best it is difficult to imagine the club will be able to attract anyone of note and it is questionable if the standard of player who would be willing to sit on the bench would even be better than Munir El-Haddadi or Sandro who have been providing cover up to this point.
The club may be wiser to look at defensive cover with Jeremy Mathieu and Adriano struggling for form and Thomas Vermaelen can't be relied on as he is often injured. Whether Luis Enrique sees this as a weakness that needs to be addressed immesiately remains to be seen but it does look like it may be the one area in Barcelona's squad that requires strengthening.
Barcelona's ban is now behind them but FIFA may not be done yet with several top clubs still under investigation for the same thing. However, Barca will be looking forward now and although the club hasn't exactly suffered throughout the ban they will be delighted that the sanctions have now been lifted and they can once again plan for the future.