Castellón boosts wage limit to a new high in 2nd tier

CD Castellón has taken another step in its financial rise within Segunda. LaLiga has set the club’s Límite de Coste de Plantilla Deportiva (LCPD) for 2026/27 at €15.433m, placing the Albinegros as 6th among the teams with the greatest capacity to spend in LaLiga Hypermotion.

The figure represents a clear jump: it increases by €3.873m versus the March 2026 update, when Castellón’s ceiling was €11.56m. In total, that’s a 33.5% rise in just six months, and it also improves the club’s position in LaLiga’s economic ranking—from 8th up to 6th, according to Sport.

Rise pushes Castellón up the chart

This growth lands at a key time in a financial table shaped by the presence of sides recently relegated from LaLiga. As Sport reports, only Girona, Mallorca, Leganés, Oviedo and Las Palmas sit above Castellón in the upper bracket.

Inmeddiately after them, the Castellón ceiling of €15.433m appears, ahead of clubs described as promotion contenders or historic sides such as Sporting de Gijón, Córdoba, Burgos, Eibar, Valladolid, Cádiz, Granada or Almería.

The size of the climb is even more striking when comparing to the starting point: in September 2025 the budget limit was around €11.3m; it edged to €11.56m in March, before now jumping much more.

Álex Calatrava’s sale matters

Sport also points to the transfer of Álex Calatrava to Espanyol as a major factor behind the new economic reality. The Spanish side reportedly paid more than five million euros, surpassing the standing release clause due to flexibility agreed over the payment schedule. The move became the biggest transfer in Castellón’s history and generated an exceptional capital gain because Cala had arrived on a free in the summer of 2024 after his deal with Atlético Madrid ended.

The article adds that, on the pitch, Calatrava delivered in his two seasons at Castalia with 75 official matches, 21 goals and 19 assists—first helping secure survival in 2024/25 and later playing a key role in the push towards the promotion spots. From there, Castellón followed its strategy: buy smart at low cost, unlock growth, revalue the player, then sell.

Still, Sport makes clear the LCPD increase is not only linked to one transfer. LaLiga also factors in broadcasting rights, commercial income, season ticket numbers, sponsorships, market operations, structural costs, debt and other financial commitments. In short, Castellón is now competing both on the grass and in the Segunda financial race—where it can build stronger squads.