Barcelona agree surprise two-year contract extension for experienced defender | OneFootball

Although getting a new striker is going to be the top-most priority of FC Barcelona for the current summer, the defense is also going to be a point of focus for the Blaugrana club’s sporting department during this time.

The futures of their two fullbacks, Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde are not too certain at the moment, and, as a result, the Catalans are being linked with some other fullbacks from the market in case they have to replace any of them. Meanwhile, they are also still in negotiations with Al-Hilal for Joao Cancelo.

The urgency to reinforce the center-back positions has declined lately, especially with the emergence of Gerard Martin as a reliable option for this role. However, they still continue to be linked with some center-backs from the market.

Meanwhile, Barcelona have also ensured the continued presence of another of their current center-backs, whose future was previously highly uncertain, i.e., Andreas Christensen. According to a report from SPORT, which cites Que t’hi jugues, the Blaugranes have already closed this renewal operation.

Furthermore, the report also cites Fabrizio Romano to reveal that this renewal will be for two years, instead of the one year that was previously expected. With this renewal, the Dane would see his wages decrease, and most of the salary he would get would be for bonuses for matches played.

The defender has suffered a lot from injuries in the last few seasons, and has played very little during this time. He accumulated only 500 minutes on the pitch during the 2024-25 season, while in the last season, his number of minutes stood only at 259.

Still, Barcelona believe that Andreas Christensen can prove to be useful going forward, as they particularly value his passing, defensive positioning, versatility, and professionalism. With this renewal, the defender would continue to be available for Hansi Flick, while the Blaugrana club would have to pay a significant part of his wages only if he plays.