Barcelona have terminated the contract of Martin Braithwaite - their ‘richest player’ – ahead of the striker joining Catalan neighbours Espanyol.
The Denmark international had become a bit-player at the Camp Nou and the Catalan club had been desperately trying to offload him before the close of the transfer window. On the final day, a breakthrough was reached with the striker accepting a compensation package to leave.
The striker had two years remaining on his Barca contract with an agreement for a percentage of the first of his final two contracted seasons to be paid as part of the package which saw him leave as a free agent. The striker controversially joined Barca in February 2020 from Leganes, when the deal was concluded outside the transfer window as an 'emergency' signing following injuries.
The 31-year-old is thought to have put pen to paper on a three-year contract at Espanyol, allowing him to remain in his Catalonia base. Espanyol are the second Catalan club in Spain’s top flight, with the duo being joined by Girona this campaign.
One of the most eye-catching details of Braithwaite’s stay at the Camp Nou was that – following Lionel Messi ’s departure from the club in the summer of 2021 – he had become the richest player in the first-team squad.
Braithwaite had been earning around £4million per season at Barcelona, but that represents only a fraction of the former Middlesbrough striker’s wealth portfolio. The Danish international boasts an impressive portfolio of investments within the real estate, fashion and the restaurant industries.
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In 2020, Forbes outlined how the striker became the richest player at Barca following Lionel Messi's exit that year. The majority of Braithwaite’s wealth (£714,298) is derived from the investment into the real estate business NYCE, which he is a partner off alongside his uncle, Phillip Michael. The company's website boasts approximately £252million in assets under management, including a real estate portfolio believed to be worth around £210m.
Braithwaite – who also co-owns clothing business ‘Trente’ alongside French entrepreneur, journalist and TV personality Anne-Leure Louis – has a property portfolio which includes homes in New York, Philadelphia, Jersey City and San Antonio. The striker also owns the restaurant 'Gave', which is located within Barcelona.
