After months of waiting
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More than half a year after initial reports of a contract extension with Frenkie de Jong, FC Barcelona has now reported completion. The 28-year-old midfielder, whose working paper was only valid until 2026, is now bound until 2029.
It was reported in the spring that coach Hansi Flick would have the final say on the issue of extension, but he did not want to be distracted by the considerations in the championship race. De Jong also emphasized at the time that he was not thinking about an extension. What was critical was that the Catalans actually didn’t want to go into the last year of their contract with any player. But in addition to de Jong, Barça also has three players, Robert Lewandowski (37), Andreas Christensen (29) and Eric García (24), who could leave the club for free in the summer.
In recent years, de Jong has repeatedly been linked with an exit. It seemed most concrete in the summer of 2022, when there was talk of a comprehensive agreement between Barça and Manchester United. After that transfer window, De Jong confirmed that club president Joan Laporta urged him to leave. Last season was also largely mixed for the Dutchman. In the new championship round, de Jong seems to have secured a permanent place for himself. He started five times in six LaLiga games in which he was available – as well as in both Champions League games. “Barça is confident that the midfielder can play a central role in the current sports project due to his quality and experience,” said a club statement after the extension.