Pedri will remain associated with Barcelona for years to come, the Catalan assures RAC1. According to the usually reliable radio station from Catalonia, club and player have found each other in a new and longer agreement. The operación prolongación, ‘the contract extension transaction’ loosely translated, has led to a contract until mid-2026. Pedri will sign his new agreement as soon as he returns from vacation.
Eighteen-year-old Pedri was a bright spot in Barcelona’s past football season. The midfielder made his debut in the first of Ronald Koeman in September last year and the rest is history. The talented midfielder was soon an indispensable part of the main squad of Barcelona and he made his debut in the national team of national coach Luis Enrique more than seven months later.
Pedri played no fewer than 73 official matches last season, partly because he also took part in the European Championship and then again in the Olympic Games. The midfielder was sent on holiday by Koeman after the 1-1 draw against Athletic Club (1-1) and Luis Enrique also saw no reason to select the teenager for the international matches at the beginning of next month. As soon as Pedri sets foot in Barcelona, he signs his contract.
Pedri’s current deal expires next summer, but Barcelona also had a unilateral option to extend the deal for another two seasons. The Spanish top club has now added another two seasons, apart from a higher salary and a higher transfer clause. Salient: when Pedri’s contract comes to an end, he will still be only 23 years young.
In any case, Pedri has been no small investment for Barcelona. The Catalans paid five million euros in September 2019 for the midfielder, who was kept at his club Las Palmas for the rest of the season. Barcelona paid a further 2.5 million euros to ensure the teenager would continue to receive playing time. When Pedri played his fiftieth game for Barcelona, the club had to pay nine million euros extra and after one hundred games a mandatory payment of five million euros follows. Luis Enrique’s appeal earned Las Palmas an extra million euros. Barcelona did have a maximum amount of thirty million euros included in the purchase agreement.
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