Frenkie de Jong has solved his future and has made his loyalty to FC Barcelona clear. As Italian journalist Nicolò Schira has reported, the Dutchman will renew his contract with Barça until 2029, extending his commitment to the culer club for four more seasons. This news marks a turning point in the sports planning of Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick.
The renewal doesn't come alone. Frenkie de Jong has accepted a significant pay cut, in a gesture that has been received with great satisfaction by the sports management. The club needed to free up salary cap space to operate with more flexibility in the transfer market. De Jong's gesture shows his commitment to the culer project. This isn't an easy decision, since the player had a much higher financial offer on the table from Saudi Arabia.
De Jong rejects big money from Al-Ittihad
Specifically, Al-Ittihad was willing to make him one of the highest-paid footballers on the planet. From Riyadh, they offered him a multimillion-dollar contract that would exponentially multiply what he'll earn at Barça. However, Frenkie has been clear with his inner circle: he wants to keep succeeding in Europe and feels that his place is at Camp Nou.
The human factor has also been decisive. Hansi Flick's arrival on the FC Barcelona bench has reignited the Dutchman's motivation. The German coach has shown him his full trust, assuring him a leading role in his system. Flick considers De Jong one of the pillars of the new Barça he's building... meanwhile, he has made it clear that his football fits perfectly into his playing style, based on ball control, dynamism, and pressing after losing possession.
De Jong: Future at Barça
Additionally, De Jong's inner circle has felt that this time the club does value him as he deserves. After years in which his future was in doubt, with pressure to leave and tempting offers rejected, finally the change that many culer fans had desired has happened. The 28-year-old midfielder has chosen heart and the sports project, and has set aside Saudi money.
The news, still pending official confirmation by the club, represents a show of authority by Barça in the market. Keeping a figure like De Jong, with such strong offers on the table, proves that the project still has credibility for top-level players. Frenkie's continuity not only strengthens the culer midfield, but also sends a clear message to the rest of the locker room: Barça remains a destination to fight for everything.