“It would be a dream” to spend whole career at Barça, says Fermín López | OneFootball

Fermín López has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Barça until 2031.

The 22-year-old rose through the club’s esteemed La Masia academy, breaking into the first team after a loan to Linares in 2022/23 – and under Hansi Flick, the midfielder has become a key player.

“Hansi has helped me a lot since he arrived; I’ve improved a lot with him. I’m thankful for his trust, but I’m also thankful for my teammates who always help me,” the Andalusian explained after signing his new deal at the Spotify Camp Nou on Friday afternoon.

“For a boy who has loved Barça since he was little, it’s a dream to make it to the first team. I live for Barça.

“I hope to make history at FC Barcelona; it’d be a dream to finish my career here,” he confessed.

Analysis: New contract reflects Fermín’s importance

Fermín López has quietly become one of the star players in a Barça squad that currently sits one point clear of Real Madrid at the top of the LaLiga table.

A substantial offer from Chelsea in the summer could have drawn the lifelong Barça fan away from Catalunya, though he made clear in an interview with Mundo Deportivo that his priority had always been securing his place in Hansi Flick’s starting eleven.

As per Transfermarkt, the 22-year-old is currently the best-performing midfielder in Europe, having registered 21 goal contributions across all competitions so far this season – particularly impressive given the fact he has twice been sidelined through injury.

His ability to read the game has added a new level to Barça’s counterattacks, breaking forward just as the striker pressures the opposing centre-backs, or when Raphinha or Lamine Yamal drag their marker wide. His perfectly-weighted through balls have also been a notable addition, adding a dangerous element of verticality to a midfield that has historically tended to prefer slow, horizontal buildup.

When things don’t quite work out and the Blaugrana lose possession, he’s effective at cutting off passing lanes and forcing mistakes, giving his teammates time to reorganise defensively.

With Barça still fighting for silverware on three fronts, Fermín’s versatility could further highlight just how crucial he has become under Flick. A midfielder by trade, the Andalusian is also adept cutting in from the left and has operated as a deep false nine on occasion, profiting from his excellent spatial awareness.

Replacing a player of Fermín’s quality would prove incredibly difficult – and tremendously costly – and so tying the 22-year-old down to a further five years at the Spotify Camp Nou is a smart piece of business by the Blaugrana.