Barcelona fans can exhale: Frenkie de Jong’s contract saga, a years-long whirlwind of speculation and financial drama, is nearing a resolution. The Dutch midfielder, whose future has hung in the balance since 2022, is finally in advanced talks to extend his stay at Camp Nou. With his current deal set to expire in 2025, the Catalans are racing against time to secure their midfield linchpin—and avoid another summer of transfer chaos. But how did they bridge the gap between financial constraints and De Jong’s legacy ambitions? The answer lies in a clever restructuring plan that could redefine player contracts at the club.
Inside De Jong’s Barcelona contract
Frenkie de Jong’s journey at the club has been anything but smooth. Signed in 2019, the 27-year-old became a symbol of the club’s financial recklessness under former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, with deferred wages ballooning into a €19 million annual burden. By 2022, Barcelona openly pushed to offload him, even agreeing to a sale with Manchester United before De Jong dug in his heels. Now, the tide has turned.
According to reports, Barcelona’s renewal offer centers on salary restructuring. While keeping De Jong’s total earnings intact, the club aims to slash his fixed base salary and replace it with performance-linked bonuses—a move that aligns with their post-Bartomeu austerity measures. Crucially, the deal would erase deferred payments from previous seasons, wiping the slate clean for both parties.
But there’s a twist: Barcelona plans to insert an €80 million (£67m) release clause, a figure designed to deter mid-tier suitors while keeping the door ajar for elite clubs. For De Jong, the compromise reflects his desire to stay at a club where he’s “very happy” and deeply embedded in the project. As one of the squad’s captains, he’s embraced mentoring Barcelona’s youth revolution, from Gavi to Lamine Yamal.
Why this deal matters beyond the numbers
De Jong’s renewal isn’t just about balancing books—it’s a statement. Barcelona’s hierarchy, burned by past mismanagement, is determined to avoid repeat sagas. Letting a star enter the final year of his contract? Not an option. Losing a leader during a rebuild? Unthinkable.
For De Jong, staying means betting on a new era. Under manager Hansi Flick, Barcelona is blending veteran savvy with teenage exuberance, and the Dutchman’s role as a bridge between generations is irreplaceable. His chemistry with Ilkay Gündogan and burgeoning stars like Fermín López has become the heartbeat of the midfield.
While paperwork remains, all signs point to De Jong anchoring Barcelona’s future. For fans, it’s a relief—and a lesson. The club’s financial woes forced tough choices, but creative solutions have salvaged a relationship that once seemed doomed. As De Jong prepares to ink his new deal, Barcelona sends a message: even in crisis, loyalty and ingenuity can rewrite the script.