Frenkie de Jong’s long-running contract saga at Barcelona looks set to end after the midfielder appointed a new agent, clearing path for an extension.
De Jong parts ways with long-time agentBarca and midfielder already agreed new termsWill sign new deal until 2028 with option for extra yearFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The 28-year-old midfielder has been locked in a stalemate with Barcelona over his renewal for months, having entered the final year of his contract. While he and the club had already reached an agreement to extend his stay months ago, the deal stalled because of problems with his former agent, Ali Dursun. According to , De Jong has now cut ties with Dursun and hired a new Dutch representative. The agent has already introduced himself to the club and held initial contact with sporting director Deco to move discussions forward.
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Barcelona had hoped to close De Jong’s extension by June 30 to match the 1:1 spending under La Liga rules, but the standoff with his agent delayed everything. Now, with that issue resolved, the Catalans are confident of tying him down.
The club reportedly offered a two-year extension on top of his current deal, keeping him at Camp Nou until 2028, with an option to extend for another year until 2029. As part of the agreement, De Jong has reportedly agreed to reduce his wages despite being one of La Liga’s top earners. He currently pockets a gross annual salary of €19 million (£16m/$22m), second only to Robert Lewandowski’s €33m (£28m/$38m) package.
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After being sidelined for around six months due to an ankle injury last season, De Jong delivered an impressive second half of the season under Hansi Flick, becoming a key pivot in midfield. Despite competition from Gavi, Marc Casado and Marc Bernal, he is seen as a vital piece of Barca’s rebuild and part of the leadership group. While Barca’s immediate focus has also been on managing registrations and exits, including the futures of Oriol Romeu, Inaki Pena and Hector Fort, the resolution of De Jong’s case now gives the club stability in midfield heading into the new campaign.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR FRENKIE DE JONG?
Barcelona kicked off their La Liga season with a 3-0 win over Mallorca on Friday. De Jong started for Hansi Flick’s side and played the full 90 minutes. With his new deal set to run until at least 2028, the Dutch midfielder can now focus fully on leading Barca’s midfield, knowing his long-term future at Camp Nou is finally secure.
