Barcelona winger Raphinha has put pen to paper on a contract extension that will keep him at the Catalan club until June 30, 2028, following a truly spectacular individual season. The Brazilian’s previous deal was set to expire in 2027.
The 28-year-old has been an instrumental figure as Barcelona clinched a domestic treble this season, lifting the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
“Barcelona and Raphinha have reached an agreement for the renewal of his contract, which will link him to the club until June 30, 2028,” the Catalan giants confirmed in a statement on Thursday.
Raphinha’s sensational performances have even positioned him as a candidate for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. He has amassed an impressive 34 goals and provided 25 assists in 56 matches across all competitions this season. His goal-scoring prowess extended to the Champions League, where he is currently the joint top goalscorer with 13, despite Barcelona’s thrilling semi-final exit against Inter Milan.
Highlighting his impact in crucial games, Raphinha netted a hat-trick in Barca’s group stage victory over Bayern Munich and scored a pivotal brace in the recent Clasico win over Real Madrid, a result that propelled Barcelona to the brink of their La Liga conquest.
Raphinha’s contract renewal follows closely on the heels of coach Hansi Flick’s new deal, which was penned on Wednesday and extends until 2027. Further good news is expected for the club’s wide attacking options, as teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, 17, is also anticipated to sign a new contract in the coming weeks. His agent, Jorge Mendes, confirmed on Thursday that “he will renew (his deal) soon” after a lunch meeting with Yamal on the outskirts of Barcelona.
Raphinha and Yamal have formed a devastating partnership on the flanks for Barcelona, flanking veteran striker Robert Lewandowski and contributing significantly to the team’s attacking firepower. The Catalans have netted 99 goals in 37 La Liga matches and will be aiming to pass the century mark on Sunday when they visit Athletic Bilbao in their final match of the season.
Raphinha initially arrived at Barcelona in 2022 from Leeds United for a fee reported to be around �55 million, helping the club secure the La Liga title in his debut season. Interestingly, he came close to leaving the club after a comparatively disappointing 2023-24 campaign but was ultimately convinced to stay by new coach Hansi Flick.
