Now it is official: FC Barcelona has extended the contract of Lamine Yamal until 2026. The next step is to follow soon
On Monday, Barça announced that Lamine Yamal has extended his contract. According to reports, however, the signing had already taken place in July, but the Catalans apparently wanted to give the event an appropriate setting. On Monday, Yamal met again with president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, among others, at the Joan Gamper Sports City. The amount of the exit clause, which must always be included in contracts in Spain, is telling. It amounts to one billion euros.
A longer term than until 2026 was simply not possible due to Yamal’s age; according to the statutes, players aged 16 can currently only extend their contracts until 2026. But Barcelona does not want to let anything go to waste in the personnel matter. According to Mundo Deportivo, an agreement has already been reached on a significantly longer term. Yamal’s advisor Jorge Mendes is said to have verbally agreed with the Catalans on a contract until 2030, with the signing to take place in 2025.
The attacker is considered one of the biggest promises in international football. On 29 April 2023, he became Barcelona’s youngest ever league player when he was substituted in the match against Real Betis (4-0) at the age of 15 years and 290 days. He is also the youngest player in the history of the Spanish national team and the youngest goal scorer (16 years and 57 days).
Yamal has played in nine competitive matches so far. He has two assists but has not yet scored a goal. He played a crucial role in the recent 1-0 win over Sevilla FC, his cross leading to Sergio Ramos’ match-winning own goal.
Yamal will make his second Champions League appearance next Wednesday (9 p.m.) when the Catalans face FC Porto.
