Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club are in active discussions to extend Frenkie de Jong’s contract, as the midfielder edges closer to entering the final year of his current deal. The Dutch international, long viewed as a vital piece in the Blaugrana midfield, remains a priority for the club amid continued outside interest—especially from Manchester United.
De Jong, who arrived at Camp Nou from Ajax in 2019, has since made 259 appearances, scoring 19 goals and providing 23 assists. While his time in Catalonia has seen its ups and downs, particularly in terms of fitness and competition for places, Barcelona view him as indispensable moving forward.
Speaking at a charity golf event hosted by former Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman, Laporta stated:
“It is on the right track. We want Frenkie to be here for many years. He’s a key player on the team.”
Koeman, who coached De Jong for both club and country, added his support for the midfielder’s stay:
“I hope he stays. He wants to, and I know he is very happy at Barça. I don’t see any major issue.”
During the 2024-25 campaign, De Jong made 46 appearances across all competitions, scoring twice and contributing two assists. Although he missed the opening stretch of the season due to injury and was briefly sidelined by Marc Casado’s form, the Dutchman reclaimed his starting role in the latter half of the season and was instrumental in Barcelona’s late push for form and consistency.
Allowing De Jong to enter the final year of his contract without renewal would be a risky move—especially with Manchester United and other European giants closely monitoring his status. United previously tried to sign him during Erik ten Hag’s first transfer window at Old Trafford, and a free move next summer would certainly spark another scramble for his services.
Despite rising talents like Casado and Marc Bernal emerging within the squad, Barcelona clearly see De Jong’s experience and composure as central to their midfield future. Laporta’s comments suggest that an agreement is not far off—offering hope to fans that De Jong will continue orchestrating play in the heart of midfield for years to come.