SC Braga sign Tommy Marqués from Barcelona in deal worth up to 12 million euros

Financial structure and contractual terms

Portuguese club SC Braga have finalised the permanent transfer of Spanish midfielder Tommy Marqués from FC Barcelona. The transaction carries a fixed base transfer fee of 11 million euros, with performance variables allowing the total sum to rise to 12 million euros if individual and team benchmarks are achieved. Marqués signed a five-season contract binding him to the Portuguese Primeira Liga side until June 2031. To secure the player, Braga installed a release clause set at 60 million euros.

Barcelona inserted multiple clauses into the deal to protect their long-term sporting and financial interests. The Catalan club holds a direct buy-back option valued at 60 million euros throughout the agreement. In addition, Barcelona negotiated a 20% cut on capital gains from any future transfer that exceeds Braga's original investment. The 19-year-old midfielder will wear squad number 16 for the Minho-based team.

Development at La Masia and first-team debut

The transfer concludes an 11-year association between Marqués and Barcelona that began when he joined the club in the summer of 2015. The midfielder entered La Masia from CE Europa at the benjamín youth level and advanced through Barcelona's youth categories. Aside from a loan spell at CF Damm during the 2023-24 season, he developed steadily within the club's youth setup, progressing from the Juvenil squads to Barça Atlètic. He also earned caps for Spain across every youth international age grade, including the under-19 national team.

His senior breakthrough at Barcelona occurred on 7 February 2026 when he made his official first-team debut against Mallorca in a La Liga encounter. Marqués had received multiple matchday squad call-ups prior to that match before earning his debut minutes on the pitch. He made a second league appearance later in the campaign during an away match against Deportivo Alavés at the Mendizorrotza stadium. Those two brief appearances earned Marqués a league winner's medal as Barcelona captured the domestic championship.

Barcelona issued an official statement acknowledging his progression through the club's ranks and his departure.

After shining, first with the Juvenil and then with Barça Atlètic, he made his official debut with the first team on 7 February, in a league match against Mallorca, after several call-ups.

Squad restructuring at SC Braga

Braga confirmed the acquisition on the afternoon of Friday, 21 August 2026, marking their ninth senior signing of the summer transfer window. The Portuguese club had already completed deals for Bernardo Fontes, Bajrami, Travassos, Sergio Barcia, Huseinbasic, Gabriel Silva, Jonas Wind, and Milosevic. Upon completing the formalities, Marqués spoke to supporters to express his pride in taking this next career step in Portugal.

Historical transfer links between both clubs

The transfer continues an established commercial and sporting connection between Barcelona and Braga. Marqués represents the third player to complete a permanent switch from the Catalan club to the Minho side in recent transfer windows. Forward Abel Ruiz previously took the same path from Barcelona to Braga before securing regular playing time in Portugal. Striker Pau Víctor also completed a transfer between the two sides, establishing a defined pathway for Barcelona academy players seeking regular senior minutes in the Portuguese top flight.