Frenkie de Jong has once again left his long-term future at Barcelona unresolved, refusing to commit to the club despite reports that La Liga giants are preparing a new contract offer for the Dutch midfielder. The 27-year-old, who has been a pillar of Barcelona’s midfield since his 2019 arrival from Ajax, has been noncommittal when pressed on whether he sees himself staying at Camp Nou beyond this season.
“Right now, I’m not focused on that,” De Jong told reporters when asked about a potential new deal. “I’m only thinking about the next games, about finishing the season strong. The rest is for the future.”
His ambiguous response will do little to ease concerns at Barcelona, where financial uncertainty and the need to balance the books have already led to speculation about the futures of several key players. De Jong, one of the club’s highest earners, has long been seen as a potential candidate for a big-money sale—especially given the persistent interest from Manchester United, who tried and failed to sign him in 2022.
De Jong’s time at Barcelona has been a mix of brilliance and turbulence. On the pitch, he has been instrumental in their recent successes, including their 2022-23 La Liga triumph under Xavi Hernández. His ability to dictate tempo, break lines with his dribbling, and link defense to attack has made him one of Europe’s most complete midfielders.
Yet off the pitch, his future has been a constant topic of debate. Barcelona’s well-documented financial struggles have repeatedly put him in the spotlight as a player who could be sacrificed to ease the club’s salary burden. In 2022, then-manager Xavi made it clear he wanted De Jong to stay, but the club’s hierarchy openly admitted they would consider offers for him if the right bid arrived.
Manchester United, under Erik ten Hag—De Jong’s former Ajax coach—pushed hard for his signature two summers ago. The move collapsed due to deferred wages owed to De Jong by Barcelona, as well as the player’s reluctance to leave. Since then, United’s interest has cooled, but other top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, have been linked with the Dutchman.
Despite the financial pressure, Barcelona’s sporting directors see De Jong as a cornerstone of their project. With Xavi now gone and new manager Hansi Flick taking charge, the club is reportedly preparing a new contract offer in an attempt to secure his long-term future.
However, the terms of any deal will be crucial. Barcelona’s current financial restrictions mean they cannot offer the same lucrative wages they once did. Instead, they may propose a longer contract with performance-based incentives—a structure that could appeal to De Jong if he is convinced by the club’s sporting ambitions.
Yet the midfielder’s hesitation suggests he is keeping his options open. At 27, he is entering his prime years, and if Barcelona cannot guarantee a competitive project, he may be tempted by a fresh challenge elsewhere.
The summer transfer window will be decisive. If Barcelona present a convincing sporting plan under Flick and find a way to structure an acceptable contract, De Jong could yet commit his future to the club. But if negotiations stall, or if a major European club tests Barcelona’s resolve with a substantial bid, another transfer saga could unfold.
For now, De Jong remains focused on the present. “I’m happy here, but in football, you never know,” he said. “The most important thing is that we finish this season well and then we’ll see.”
His words leave the door open—both for Barcelona to convince him to stay, and for Europe’s elite to make their move. One thing is certain: Frenkie de Jong’s future will be one of the summer’s biggest talking points.
