FC Barcelona, one of Europe’s most prestigious football clubs, colloquially known as Barca, auctioned its first-ever NFT for $693,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in New York on July 29.
Barca’s NFT titled In a Way, Immortal is a video digital artwork showcasing Johan Cruyff’s iconic goal against Atlético Madrid on December 22, 1973. Johan flew through the air to score a goal against the football club.
The auction was closed at $550,000, but with the addition of the auctioneer’s fees, the total sale value came to $693,000. The buyer has also purchased four other NFTs, including the animated version’s static image that captures the iconic moment.
FC Barcelona is offering the title of Barca Digital Ambassador to the owner of the NFT, in addition to several VIP benefits and experiences with the club.
“FC Barcelona will incorporate in the NFT’s smart contract a set of experiences such as Meet & Greets, visits to La Masia, hospitality rights (for a minimum of five years), the right to play at the Spotify Camp Nou and an official handover of the ball before a friendly match,” the press release from the club stated.
FC Barcelona also sold a quarter of its stake in FC Barcelona’s Barça Studios to crypto firm Chiliz for around $100 million to create better NFT and metaverse experiences for its fans.
