Frenkie de Jong expects to sign new Barcelona contract: ‘They want it and I want it'
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong says he expects to sign a new contract with the La Liga champions.
The Athletic reported in March that the Netherlands international was in talks with Barcelona over a new deal, with his current terms set to expire in a year.
'I think I will sign a new contract, but you can never say that with a hundred per cent certainty. If everything goes well, then it will happen,' De Jong told Dutch outlet Voetbalzone while on duty with his country. 'They want it and I want it, so normally you can work it out.'
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De Jong made 46 appearances for Barcelona in the 2024-25 season as his side claimed La Liga and Copa del Rey titles, while also reaching the Champions League semi-final, where they suffered a 7-6 aggregate defeat by Inter.
Negotiations over a new deal between Barcelona and De Jong's camp began in March, after the club sent a proposal to extend his terms at the start of 2024, but club sources — who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships — said they did not receive a response at the time.
Barcelona signed De Jong from Ajax for £86million ($116.4m) in 2019 and established his position in their midfield immediately. However, as one of the highest earners in the squad, the 28-year-old's contract became a problem for the Catalan club during a period of financial turmoil, club sources added.
Manchester United agreed to pay Barcelona a guaranteed fee of €75million (£63million, $75million) for De Jong in the summer of 2022, as reported by The Athletic, but the transfer did not materialise. De Jong later criticised Catalan media for the reporting of his situation at the club, dismissing suggestions he was earning '€40million' and said they 'made up a story'.
An ankle injury suffered in April 2024 sidelined De Jong for over six months, and speaking upon his return last year, the midfielder said he wondered 'whether I would ever fully recover'.
'There was uncertainty about how long it would take and whether my ankle would be completely the same as it was before,' De Jong said at the time.
The Dutchman has made 259 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 19 goals and assisting 23.
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