Ranking Barcelona's Greatest over-30 Signings of the Last 20 Years

Barcelona might be famed for bringing through players from their youth academy over the past decade or two, but they also have a huge presence in the transfer market and are capable of signing the world's best players for enormous fees.

Neymar and Luis Suarez are two of the current squad who arrived on such deals, while the likes of Samuel Umtiti and Denis Suarez point to the strategy of renewing the team by signing younger talents with the potential to improve further in the coming seasons.

Sometimes, however, Barca need to look to the more experienced end of the market; whether to boost the squad depth after injuries, to add a little more know-how to the ranks or just to fill a void on the cheap, there are occasions when the Camp Nou side look to veterans for a particular role.

Here we look at all 13 players they have signed in the past two decades at age 30 or over and rank them according to impact and impression made while at Barcelona.

13. Rustu Recber, 2003/04

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Rustu Recber was a name in big demand when his contract expired at Fenerbahce, but with some of Europe's biggest teams interested in signing him, it was Barcelona he opted to join—and it proved a mistake for both parties.

Initially injured after joining, the goalkeeper was offended at Victor Valdes being chosen to start ahead of him at the beginning of the season, and he quickly fell out with manager Frank Rijkaard.

Predictably, it soon went downhill thereafter, and his one-year stay was ended with a loan move back to Turkey.

12. Laurent Blanc, 1996/97

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Laurent Blanc was signed at the personal request of Barca manager and all-round football legend Johan Cruyff, but the French defender's time at the club was an unhappy one—no doubt at least partly because Cruyff was sacked just as Blanc signed.

Injuries early on in the season and a red card that saw him miss key games also compounded the negativity around his move, and Blanc spent just one season at the Camp Nou as a result.

With the World Cup coming up in his home nation, Blanc moved back to France with Marseille and recovered his best form, which was rarely, if ever, seen in La Liga.

11. Hristo Stoichkov, 1996/97

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Bulgarian legend Hristo Stoichkov had already enjoyed a phenomenal spell at Barcelona before he returned for a short-lived second stint, but it's fair to say it wasn't anywhere near as successful as his first time at the Camp Nou.

Stoichkov only played a season with any kind of regularity, netting just seven goals in his first campaign back, but he wasn't a guaranteed starter and soon fell out of favour.

After being eased out of the side, he played only four times the following La Liga season and left the club for a final time, moving to CSKA Sofia in his homeland as his career wound down.

It doesn't diminish the incredible force he was in his first spell, but as we're judging him only on his second period, he can't be high up this particular list.

10. Demetrio Albertini, 2004/05

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Demetrio Albertini joined Barcelona for the final months of his career, moving from Atalanta in January 2005.

He only featured in a handful of games, just five in La Liga, as he helped the team wrap up the title.

Albertini left at the end of the campaign and retired a few months later. A minimal impact but a winning one.

9. Jeremy Mathieu, 2014/15

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The only one in our list still at the club, Jeremy Mathieu joined from Valencia in '14/15 and has played a big squad role in his three years, though his first was comfortably his best.

Mathieu has played both on the left and in the middle of defence, but while his aggressive stance, aerial presence and physicality proved important in his debut season, his lack of mobility and athleticism has only hampered him since.

Advancing years and decreasing game time simply don't agree with Mathieu and the mistakes have become more commonplace than the top-level performances over the last 18 months.

8. Lilian Thuram, 2006/07

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Lilian Thuram was long-regarded as one of Europe's best defenders before he joined Barcelona, as his old club Juventus were relegated on corruption-related charges.

The French defender was perhaps past his best by that point, though, and after switching between right-back and centre-back in his first season, he was pushed down the order of preference in the middle of defence in his second campaign in Spain.

Thuram did play more than 50 games, but he was clearly not favoured by the end of 2007/08 and he subsequently retired, a legend of the game in France and still a name looked upon as one of the great complete full-backs for his rampaging style and defensive acumen.

7. Roberto Bonano, 2001/02

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Roberto Bonano was initially signed as a first-choice goalkeeper after a run of several stoppers failing to establish themselves over the longer term, and the Argentinian was thought to be the one who could finally offer solidity and reliability.

It went to plan initially, but despite playing around 50 games in two years, Bonano was soon eased aside.

Taking his place was a certain young goalkeeper by the name of Victor Valdes, who would, of course, prove to be the long-term option Barca had been waiting for.

6. Jose Manuel Pinto, 2007/08

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Initially signed on loan, Jose Manuel Pinto joined Barca permanently at the end of '07/08 and spent more than six years at the Camp Nou in total.

He was a second-choice goalkeeper, back-up to Valdes for the vast majority of his time at the club, but all told he played 90 times and his final year at the club was his most productive in game-time terms, due to a season-ending injury for the Spanish stopper.

Pinto was a regular in cup fixtures, and his departure, along with that of Valdes, ushered in a new era of Barcelona goalkeepers.

5. Sylvinho, 2004/05

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Left-back Sylvinho was seen as a bit-part player when he joined, a veteran squad member to provide depth and be a back-up, but he actually played a reasonably important role and spent five years at the club.

After joining from Celta Vigo, Sylvinho won three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies at Barca, the second of the latter coming in 2009 in his last game for the club.

Two of his campaigns at the Camp Nou were spent as a reliable first-team option, while he played 25 or more games in three of his five seasons.

The Brazilian left for Manchester City for a season after leaving Barca on a free.

4. Ruud Hesp, 1997/98

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Ruud Hesp might not be the most glamorous name Barca have ever signed, but he was certainly an effective purchase.

An experienced addition between the sticks, the Dutch goalkeeper spent three years at the club and was first choice for the first two, fending off the challenge of the more notable Vitor Baia to become Barca's No. 1.

Hesp helped win back-to-back La Liga titles, including the double in '98, before the brief emergence of Francesc Arnau meant split game time for the two 'keepers. Hesp departed Barcelona in 2000.

3. Claudio Bravo, 2014/15

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Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was Valdes' replacement in 2014, establishing himself as the No. 1 for Barcelona in La Liga, where he had previously shone with Real Sociedad.

Bravo alternated with cup goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, now the club's overall No. 1, and it was the Chilean who helped Barca to back-to-back league titles under Luis Enrique.

His start was particularly impressive, with clean sheets being commonplace in his first month or two until a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty finally found its way past him for the first time. Bravo was a successful signing, and he certainly enjoyed his time at Barca more than he has at Manchester City so far since leaving almost a year ago.

2. Henrik Larsson, 2004/05

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Henrik Larsson is often highlighted as the ideal "experienced addition"; low cost to sign, happy not to start every game, winning impact and leaving as something of an idol.

The Swedish striker joined on a free transfer from Celtic after years as a legend at the SPL club, and he initially started with a good impact at Barcelona—until a cruciate ligament injury, sustained in El Clasico, essentially ended his first season at the club.

Despite being out of action for nine months, the Catalan outfit extended his contract and Larsson played a vital role the season after, particularly in coming off the bench to assist both goals in a comeback win in the UEFA Champions League final.

Add in double figures in La Liga goals in his second season, and it's clear why his impact is so respected.

1. Edgar Davids, 2003/04

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Rarely can such a short-term option have had such a lasting and profound impact as Edgar Davids did, with the Dutch midfielder signing on loan midway through the 2003/04 season.

His combative style of play, aggressive ability to surge forward and the fact he so quickly found his feet in the team pushed Barca from mid-table strugglers to fighting back at the top end as they should have been, eventually finishing second.

Frank Rijkaard was under huge pressure when Davids arrived but by the end of the season was safe in his job—and went on to achieve big success in the seasons that followed, with Davids still seen as key to that resurgence.