The Dutch midfielder has become an integral part of Hansi Flick’s squad
Frenkie de Jong is willing to take a pay cut to stay at Barcelona beyond next season, with the 28-year-old having told club officials that he is prepared to lower his salary demands in exchange for a contract extension.
De Jong is set to enter the final year of his current deal this summer and the Barcelona hierarchy are reportedly interested in extending his contract. It wasn’t long ago that De Jong’s time in Catalonia looked to be winding down. A serious ankle injury in April 2024 kept him sidelined for months and speculation swirled that the club would look to move him on in a bid to trim the wage bill.
But with Hansi Flick’s arrival, he has become a key part of the team. The German gradually reintroduced De Jong through substitute appearances before reintegrating him into the starting 11, where he has forged an effective midfield partnership with Pedri.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently made it clear that securing De Jong’s renewal is a top priority.
“Frenkie is urgent because he has one year left on his contract, and we don’t want players in that situation. De Jong defines our style,” Laporta told TV3. “There have been professional circumstances for two months now, because De Jong wants to stay.
“We’ve talked about it and agreed on it. We want him to stay, and he must be key to this project.”
