The 2022–23 season was the 35th season in the history of FC Barcelona Femení. In addition to the domestic league, Barcelona also played in the season's editions of the Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de España Femenina and UEFA Women's Champions League. They ended the season with a continental treble (winning the league, the Supercopa and the Champions League), scoring 173 goals in all competitions and conceding 21 goals; they won 91% of all their matches in all competitions.
On transfer deadline day, 7 September, Barcelona broke the world record for a transfer fee in women's football when they signed English midfielder Keira Walsh from Manchester City for €470,000 in a three-year deal.
In their first match of the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage, Barcelona surpassed their previous goal-scoring record of six goals in one game in the competition after winning 9–0 against Benfica. In their last match of the Champions League group stage, a 6–0 win against Rosengård, Barcelona surpassed the record for most goals scored by a women's team in the group stages, scoring 29 goals in total and beating the previous record of 25 goals, set by PSG during the previous season.
On 22 January 2023, the team won the 2022–23 Supercopa de España Femenina. Two days later, they were technically disqualified from the 2022–23 Copa de la Reina de Fútbol. On 30 April 2023, Barcelona won the league for the fourth consecutive season and eighth time overall. This was the second season in a row in which they have won the league with a perfect season (all wins); after winning the title they suffered a loss and a draw.
On 3 June, Barcelona won the UEFA Women's Champions League for the second time in the team's history, mounting a comeback to win 3–2 against VfL Wolfsburg in the final.
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Season overview
June 2022 On 1 June, Barcelona announced that defender Leila Ouahabi would be leaving the club after thirteen years and 199 appearances; with the club she had scored seven goals and won every trophy possible, including five leagues titles and one Champions League. Speaking to Barça TV, Ouahabi said: "After 13 years at the club, I think my time has come. It's the end of one era and the start of another. I'm so proud of everything that I've achieved and want to thank the fans for all their support. I am leaving safe in the knowledge that I achieved everything that I set out to do."
On 3 June, Barcelona announced the contract renewal of head coach Jonatan Giráldez until 30 June 2024. On 4 June, Barcelona renewed the contract of defender Laia Codina until 2024. On 6 June and 7 June, Barcelona announced the renewals of goalkeeper Gemma Font and Swiss player Ana-Maria Crnogorčević respectively, both renewed until 2024.
On 17 June, Barcelona announced the first signing of the season, defender Nuria Rábano, who signed until 2024. On 18 June, the signing of English defender Lucy Bronze was announced, also until 2024. On 19 June, Barcelona announced the signing of Brazilian striker Geyse Ferreira until 2024. She was joint league top scorer in the previous season alongside Asisat Oshoala, with twenty goals.
On 22 June, striker Jenni Hermoso announced on Instagram that she was leaving the club. In six and a half seasons as a blaugrana, Hermoso became the club's all-time leading goalscorer with 181 goals in 224 official appearances. Her record allowed her to be the league's top scorer with Barça in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021. Hermoso was also top scorer in the 2020–21 Champions League. In her Instagram post, Hermoso said: "Everything comes and sometimes ends. I am very proud of having given my all in the shirt."
On 30 June, Barcelona announced that Dutch winger Lieke Martens was also departing the club after her contract ended. Her 158 appearances in the Barça shirt are a record for a non-Spanish player.
The record holder for most appearances for the club, defender Melanie Serrano, announced her retirement after eighteen years and 517 appearances, also announcing that she will stay on at the club working in a non-playing capacity. Forward Candela Andújar also announced her retirement in an Instagram post.
July On 5 July, Barcelona announced that captain Alexia Putellas had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in her left knee while training with the Spanish national team in England at the Euro 2022 tournament. On 11 July, it was announced that Alexia would undergo an operation the next day. Also on 11 July, Barcelona announced the signing of striker Salma Paralluelo, who signed until 2026. On 12 July, Alexia had her operation. A success, the nature of the injury and the recovery meant she was still set miss the majority of the season due to recovery; it was estimated that the earliest she could return to play would be April 2023.
On 22 July, Barcelona's Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala won the African Women's Footballer of the Year award for a record 5th time.
On 26 July, the contract renewal of defender Emma Ramírez until 2024 was announced. Barcelona also announced the signing of 16-year-old midfielder Vicky López, who signed until 2027.
On 31 July, Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze won the Euro 2022 tournament with England and striker Geyse Ferreira won the Copa América with Brazil.
August On 6 August, Barcelona opened the pre-season with a 10–0 demolition of AEM Lleida in a friendly, which included a hat-trick by Caroline Graham Hansen.
On 9 August, Barcelona reached an agreement with defender Andrea Pereira to terminate her contract after playing four seasons with the club.
The team then travelled to France to take part in the AMOS Women's French Cup. On 16 August the team faced Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the tournament, where they were narrowly beaten 1–2. Then on 19 August, Barcelona won 5–4 on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain in the third place play-off match to finish third in the summer friendly tournament.
On 18 August, Barcelona announced that they have reached an agreement with plant-based food company Heura Foods. They will be the new partner of the first Barça women's team for the next three seasons; until the 30th of June 2025.
On 23 August, Barcelona retained the Joan Gamper Trophy after beating Montpellier 6–0 at Estadi Johan Cruyff; midfielder Patri Guijarro was named MVP of the match.
On 25 August, captain Alexia Putellas won the UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award for the second year in a row.
On 27 August, Barcelona reached an agreement with midfielder Andrea Falcón to terminate her contract after playing 41 matches for the club.
On 27 August, Barcelona concluded the pre-season with a 2–4 win on penalties against Granadilla Tenerife to win the invitational Teide Trophy for the first time.
On 30 August, Barcelona announced that they reached an agreement with the packaging company GLS Group, which became the official logistic partner of the squad and will remain a global sponsor of the club for the next three seasons, until 30 June 2025.
September On transfer deadline day, 7 September, Barcelona broke the world record for a transfer fee in women's football when they signed English midfielder Keira Walsh from Manchester City for €470,000 in a three-year deal, until 30 June 2025.
On 9 September, Barcelona reached an agreement with Arsenal for the transfer of Brazilian striker Gio Queiroz to the English club.
On 11 September, Barcelona were supposed to play the first league match of the season against Levante Las Planas. Both teams arrived in Sant Joan Despí at the allotted time and, after warming up, they lined up for the game as normal. As no match officials arrived, they waited for the required half hour before the game was officially called off; like others, the match was postponed after the referee and match officials did not show up to the venue as part of a strike asking for higher wages from the Royal Spanish Football Federation. On 15 September 2022, a deal was reached between the parties to end the strike, which paved the way for the league season to start. A new date for the postponed match was decided by the federation; Barcelona played the postponed first round match on 3 November 2022.
On 17 September, Barcelona started off the new season with a 2–0 win against Granadilla Tenerife, with goals from Caroline Graham Hansen and the new signing Geyse Ferreira. By coming off the bench to play in this match, Vicky López became the youngest person to play for Barcelona Femení's first team in the professional era, at 16 years, 1 month and 19 days.
On 25 September, Barcelona won 1–4 against Villarreal to claim the first position in the league table for the first time this season. Goals were scored by Mapi León, Asisat Oshoala, and Clàudia Pina, and an own goal was scored by Villarreal defender Lara Mata.
October On 1 October, Barcelona crushed Madrid CFF 7–0 to claim their third victory in a row and to maintain the first position in the league table. Caroline Graham Hansen scored once while Mariona Caldentey, Geyse Ferreira and Ana-Maria Crnogorčević scored two goals each.
On 3 October, the draw for the 2022–23 UEFA Women's Champions League group stage was held in Nyon. Barcelona was drawn into Group D to play against Bayern Munich, Benfica, and Rosengård.
On 4 October, Barcelona announced that the home matches against Bayern Munich and Rosengård will be played at Camp Nou, while the home match against Benfica will be played at Estadi Johan Cruyff.
On 15 October, following the international break, Barcelona continued their dominance, taking their fourth straight win in the league by beating Athletic Club 0–3 with goals from Clàudia Pina, Geyse Ferreira and Mariona Caldentey.
On 17 October, captain Alexia Putellas won her second consecutive Ballon d'Or Féminin at the 2022 ceremony, and became the first-ever two-time winner of the honour, and the first to have won it in consecutive years. Aitana Bonmatí, Asisat Oshoala and Fridolina Rolfö and were also shortlisted for the award and were ranked 5th, 16th and 19th respectively.
On 19 October, in their first match of the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage, Barcelona surpassed their previous goal-scoring record of six goals in one game in the competition after winning 9–0 against Benfica; the new goal-scoring record for the team was achieved with goals from Patricia Guijarro, Aitana Bonmatí, Mariona Caldentey, Ana-Maria Crnogorčević, Clàudia Pina, who scored one goal each and Asisat Oshoala and Geyse Ferreira, who scored two goals each. The first goal of Asisat Oshoala scored in the 34th minute was chosen as the Goal of the Week for matchday 1 of the Champions League group stage. On the same day, Barcelona reached an agreement with the Mexican multinational food company Grupo Bimbo to become the club's Global Partner and the main partner for the women's football first team. The core strategies for this alliance involve promoting healthy and active lifestyles, fostering new talents, and a clear investment in women's empowerment. The women's team aim to become financially independent from the men's team with partnerships like the one with Bimbo.
On 20 October, Barcelona announced that defender Laia Codina had suffered an acromioclavicular joint dislocation – a separated shoulder – in her right shoulder, which occurred while playing in the match against Benfica the day before. It was announced that she would miss six weeks as a result of the injury and would return to play in early December.
On 21 October, captain Alexia Putellas won the Golden Player Woman award presented by the Italian sport magazine Tuttosport. She became the second winner of the award; Lieke Martens won it in 2021 while playing for Barcelona.