Barça Keeps the Heartbeat: De Jong Extends Through 2029

New chapter sealed: De Jong extends with Barca

Barça has sealed the renewal file of its Dutch star Frenkie de Jong after months of intensive negotiations, closing the door on any speculation about his future.

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that the player will officially sign next Wednesday on his new contract, binding him to Barcelona until June 30, 2029, allowing him to continue his career with the team until he turns 32.

According to the Catalan paper, all contractual details were finalized today, after all parties gave the green light to sign the final documents, including the club’s legal and financial departments.

Details and implications

The renewal confirms the absolute trust De Jong enjoys from the club’s management and the coaching staff led by German manager Hans Flick.

The player will keep the current season’s salary as is, with the new salary taking effect from the start of the 2026-2027 season, i.e., from July next year.

The move has a clear financial dimension for Barcelona, as it allows better salary balance and a more sustainable spending structure under the club’s cost-cutting policy over several seasons, in an effort to comply with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play rules.

Regarding the renewal’s release clause, it has risen from 400 million to 500 million euros, becoming one of the club’s highest clauses and reflecting Barcelona’s intent to completely shield its Dutch star from the lure of major European clubs, notably Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, who had previously shown interest.

Future role and outlook

Since the arrival of coach Hans Flick at Barcelona, De Jong has established himself as an indispensable element in the team’s setup, where he is relied upon primarily in the double pivot alongside Spanish talent Pedri.

The pair form the beating heart of a playing style based on possession and smart control of midfield, which has made De Jong one of the most consistent performers this season, despite some injuries he endured at the start of last year.

Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, expressed his full support for the player’s stay, stating in a previous interview with Mundo Deportivo that Frenkie de Jong is a key player in our sporting project, not only for his technical level but also because he embodies the values we want at Barcelona—commitment, professionalism, and leadership in the locker room.

Mutual trust

The renewal through 2029 is a clear message from both sides, with the club reaffirming its hold on its pivotal player and the player pledging loyalty to a club that trusted him since his move from Ajax in the summer of 2019 for €75 million.

The relationship between De Jong and Barcelona had seen moments of ambiguity, especially in summer 2022, when the club tried to sell him to ease heavy wage costs.

But the player’s insistence on staying and his belief in his ability to succeed at Camp Nou helped him survive that tough phase and become today a symbol of sporting stability within the squad.

The Dutchman, who will turn 29 on May 12, is enjoying one of his most mature periods both technically and personally, blending European experience with the drive to keep improving.

Looking to the future

This step sits within Barcelona’s plan to renew contracts of its main stars who form the core of the new sporting project, such as Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, and Araújo, in addition to De Jong, in an effort to secure long-term technical stability and build a team capable of competing domestically and in Europe in coming years.

And De Jong hopes this renewal will be a turning point in his career with the club, especially since he is among the most committed and selfless players in the squad, both physically and tactically.

Flick, too, sees him as the calm leader who can guide the midfield in big matches, just as Xavi and Iniesta did in the past.

Signing through 2029 is not just a legal signature; it reflects a mutual trust between a player who arrived young and became one of the backbone pillars, and the club as it plans for the future. While Barca maps its path forward, Frenkie De Jong seems set to remain a key part of both present and future in the club’s evolving project.

PUNCHLINE 1: This deal is so tight even rumors need a silencer.

PUNCHLINE 2: Barca’s commitment to 2029 is longer than most to-do lists—at least the midfield will be awake for the sequence of big matches.