Barcelona sporting director Deco reveals why Frenkie de Jong has still not signed a contract extension with Hansi Flick's side

Speculation has been rife regarding De Jong’s future at Barcelona. In a recent report from Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, talks between De Jong and the Spanish champions were back on track after initially hitting the buffers when the 28-year-old switched to a new agent.

Another report from the same outlet then claimed that De Jong was close to putting pen to paper on a contract extension which would tie him to Barcelona until 2029. The report stated that the former Ajax star had even agreed to take a pay cut in order to remain with Hansi Flick’s side.

And now Barcelona chief Deco has had his say on where things stand with De Jong. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the 48-year-old has revealed that while an agreement is yet to be found, discussions are going well between both parties and there is belief that a deal can be concluded in the near future.

In quotes carried by MD, Deco said: “We are talking. Frenkie is really enjoying being here. He has matured on all levels, with his family, in the team.

“If you are a player with character, you don’t just want to stay because you are in Barcelona, but because you want to compete for titles, and he sees that he can compete for titles. He sees this and wants to stay here.

“At the club, we see him as a key player for the current project and the coming years, so I think we’ll get him to continue.”

And when pressed on whether he believes De Jong will ink fresh terms, Deco added: “Yes, I do.”

In a separate interview earlier this month, Barcelona president Joan Laporta also expressed his belief that De Jong would remain at the club, telling RAC1: "The renewal with De Jong is being worked on. De Jong has done an extraordinary job. We said we didn't want any player whose contract expires this year, but we made an exception for De Jong because he changed agents. He's motivated; he even says he's sleeping despite having recently become a father. We expect good news soon.”

One player who is reportedly not in productive discussions with Barcelona over a contract extension is Ferran Torres. In a report from Spanish publication MARCA, the club have stalled talks with Torres, 25, as they look to prioritise renewals for defensive duo Eric Garcia, 24, and Andreas Christensen, 29, whose current deals - like De Jong's - expire next summer. The report concludes by stating Barcelona are still "counting" on Torres, whose current terms expire in 2027.

De Jong joined Barcelona from Ajax in 2019 and has made 265 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 19 goals. He has lifted six major honours with the Camp Nou club including two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey crowns.

De Jong will be hoping to help Barcelona continue their strong start to the 2025-26 season when they entertain Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday. Flick’s men, who have won seven of their opening eight games in all competitions this season, will then travel to Sevilla in their final league outing before the international break.