FC Barcelona is growing increasingly concerned that midfielder Frenkie de Jong is intentionally delaying contract renewal talks in order to leave the club for free when his current deal expires, according to SPORT, citing a Catalunya Radio report based on anonymous sources.
De Jongâs signing from Ajax in 2019 was seen as a major achievement by then-president Josep Bartomeu. At the time, European rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City were also interested in the talented midfielder, who had been named the best midfielder of the 2018/19 Champions League campaign after helping Ajax reach the semifinals. However, Bartomeu convinced De Jong that Barcelona would be the best place for his development, and the 27-year-old has been with the club since.
Things haven’t gone as expected for either De Jong or Barcelona. While De Jong has yet to fully fulfill his potential, the club has won only one La Liga title and has failed to advance past the Champions League quarterfinals during his tenure. In 2022, De Jong was linked with a move to Manchester United, where a reunion with former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag was speculated, though Ten Hagâs recent dismissal has not completely ruled out the possibility of De Jong leaving Barcelona.
Catalunya Radio reports that Barcelona believes De Jong and his representatives are intentionally stalling on a contract extension in order to leave on a free transfer when his deal expires in 2026. Despite this, De Jong is still considered a key part of the clubâs plans under coach Hansi Flick, who gave him his debut for the 2024/25 season in a 5-2 victory over Red Star Belgrade.
With Barcelona facing significant financial challenges, losing a player they signed for âŹ75 million for nothing would be a blow. If De Jong does not renew, the club would have to sell him in the summer of 2025 to recoup some of that investment.
De Jong had restructured his contract during the pandemic, deferring payments that are now due to be paid this season. Sporting Director Deco has reportedly offered De Jong a long-term extension to manage this deferred pay, but has yet to receive a response. Despite meetings with De Jong’s representatives, Barcelona now feels that his camp is not inclined to move forward with negotiations, which could lead to a cold reception from fans, as seen when he was introduced before the Joan Gamper Trophy in August.
