Barcelona shore up defence with Everton Martina Fernández back

FC Barcelona have re‑signed 21‑year‑old Spanish defender Martina Fernández from Everton on a three‑year contract, activating a buy‑back clause after her loan spell and subsequent permanent move to the Toffees. The Spanish youth international featured in every league match last season and returns to Spain 18 months after leaving.

Barcelona faced a number of high‑profile exits during the close season, leaving a defensive void that the club aimed to fill with a player valued for reliability and experience in the English top flight.

Fernández originally joined Barcelona from Girona in 2018, spending several years in the club’s youth system before progressing to Barcelona B and making her first‑team debut in the 2022/2023 season, where she appeared in 29 matches and scored two goals.

At Everton, Fernández started all 22 matches in the Barclays Women’s Super League last season, contributed two goals and was regarded as one of the Toffees’ most consistent performers throughout the campaign.

The buy‑back clause in her contract was triggered this morning, with WSL Full‑Time reporting the news via an official club press release from Everton.

Barcelona have welcomed Fernández’s return, noting she will add quality to a squad that has lost several key players and is expected to strengthen the defensive line.

For Everton, the departure means the loss of a dependable defender who featured in every league game, and the Toffees will need to find a replacement to fill the void left by Fernández’s exit.