De Jong seals Barcelona’s future: midfield anchor extended to 2029
4 octobre 2025
Barcelona has sealed one of the season’s most important deals, finalizing a contract extension with Dutch star Frenkie de Jong until June 30, 2029, keeping him as the Catalan club’s midfield backbone for three more seasons—a move described in club corridors as strategic to secure the engine room for years to come.
According to Sport, negotiations advanced to final stages in recent weeks, with both sides exchanging the official documents. De Jong granted final consent, while Manuel Del Rio, the club’s general director, was the first to sign the initial formalities to start the process.
In the coming days, the remaining steps are expected to be completed as President Joan Laporta and Vice President Rafa Yuste, among others, sign off, with an official announcement due within a week at most.
The acceleration is largely down to De Jong’s new agent, Sebastian Ledor, who replaced Ali Dursun. Ledor bridged the gap between the player’s wish to stay and the club’s financial demands after previous tensions amid the economic crisis.
A leap up the financial ladder
Under the new deal, De Jong will earn a total annual gross around 12 million euros, placing him in a bracket with peers like Pedri, Ferran Torres, and Dani Olmo, while staying below the top earners such as Robert Lewandowski. The arrangement also accommodates rising stars like Lamine Yamal, and senior figures such as Marc-André ter Stegen who enjoy seniority-based advantages.
Keeping De Jong within this new salary tier demonstrates the club’s aim to balance the payroll within sustainable lines after years of wage inflation and difficulties with fair-play rules.
Upcoming renewals on the radar
Next, Barcelona will turn to other potential extensions, notably Spanish defender Eric Garcia and Danish defender Andreas Christensen.
Garcia, who had been close to departure in the winter window, has regained trust under coach Hans Flick, with the club already opening initial talks with his agent Iván De La Peña.
For Christensen, whose contract runs until next summer, the club remains cautious given injury-hit spells; if he regains form, a renewal will be offered; otherwise, he could leave on a free at the end of the contract.
De Jong – the cornerstone
Since arriving from Ajax in 2019 for 75 million euros, De Jong has proven essential to Barcelona’s project. He blends tempo control with smart distribution and calm build-up, making him indispensable in a possession-driven model.
Despite financial headaches in recent years and flirtations with exits, De Jong has remained committed to the club’s project and has repeatedly stressed his ambition to succeed at Barça.
Coach Hans Flick views De Jong as a key pillar of his new project, relying on him to transition the ball effectively and to shield the defense. He is also regarded as a respected locker-room leader by teammates who value his work ethic.
The contract extension to 2029 sends a dual message: technical stability for the team’s playing philosophy and a more measured financial structure that enables longer-term planning after a period of turbulence.
In this light, Barça continues to build around a youthful core—Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal—supported by experienced players like De Jong, who embodies both maturity and loyalty to the club’s values.
Punchline 1: If De Jong keeps steering this ship, the payroll might start needing its own lifeboat. Punchline 2: And if the wage bill climbs any higher, the trophies might start charging rent just to sit on them.
