Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has signed a new contract keeping him at the club until 2029, the Spanish champions announced on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Dutch international, who joined Barcelona from Ajax in 2019, is now in his seventh season with the Catalan giants. During that time, he has won two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies.
“Barça are confident that the midfielder can be a pivotal part of the current sporting project due to his quality and experience,” the club said in a statement.
De Jong has faced periods of inconsistent form since arriving at Camp Nou but has established himself as a key player under head coach Hansi Flick, forming a strong midfield partnership with Pedri González.
Speaking at a news conference, De Jong said the renewal was a dream come true.
“I always dreamed of playing for Barça, and now that I am living the dream I have always had since I was a child, I want to continue pursuing this dream for many more years, and I am eager to win titles,” he said.
De Jong, who was signed during the presidency of Josep Maria Bartomeu, remains one of the club’s highest earners. However, Spanish media reports suggest that his new deal includes a pay cut starting from the 2026/27 season as part of the club’s ongoing efforts to balance finances.
Addressing speculation about his wages, De Jong said media exaggerations had distorted public perception of him.
“I will not tell you what I will earn. They’ve always talked about it a lot, but I think that numbers regarding what I earned before have been exaggerated a lot,” he explained.
“I think that has affected a bit how people see me, because if they read in newspapers that Frenkie earns this, that he’s the player who earns the most money in Europe… it has an impact.”
Barcelona had attempted to sell De Jong in 2022 amid financial troubles, but the midfielder insisted on staying at the club. Since then, he has made over 250 appearances for the Blaugrana.
“I don’t feel under-valued by my teammates, coaches, or within the club—that’s more of a media thing,” he added. “That’s the beauty of football, everyone can have their opinion.”
The new deal underscores De Jong’s long-term commitment to Barcelona and reaffirms his central role in Flick’s plans as the club continues to rebuild both on and off the pitch.
