La Liga
Why Frenkie de Jong’s New Barcelona Deal Until 2029 Makes Perfect Sense
FC Barcelona has confirmed that Frenkie de Jong has signed a new contract extending his stay at the club until 2029.
The deal highlights the club’s strong belief in his talent and importance to the team. Since joining Ajax in 2019, De Jong has been a model of consistency and a key figure in Barcelona’s midfield.
Over the past six years, the Dutch midfielder has quietly built a reputation as one of Barcelona’s most dependable and integral figures, bridging different managerial eras while maintaining a world-class standard in the heart of midfield.
A Model of Consistency and Longevity
Since making his debut on August 16, 2019, against Athletic Club, De Jong has made 267 appearances for Barcelona more than any other player during this period.
To put this into perspective, the next closest are Marc-André ter Stegen (232), Pedri (212), Sergio Busquets (186), and Ronald Araújo (182).
This remarkable figure emphasizes De Jong’s durability, adaptability, and importance.
Few players in modern football manage to stay so central to a team through multiple managerial changes.
Yet De Jong has earned the trust of Ernesto Valverde, Quique Setién, Ronald Koeman, Xavi Hernández, and now Hansi Flick, consistently featuring as a tactical cornerstone regardless of the system or philosophy in place.
Winning Mentality and Impact
It’s not just his number of games that stand out, it’s what Barcelona achieves when he’s on the pitch.
With De Jong in the lineup, Barcelona has won 62.92% of its matches, a testament to his steadying influence and control in midfield.
Even more impressively, he has accumulated 168 wins, the highest of any Barcelona player since 2019, surpassing the likes of ter Stegen (142), Pedri (138), Araújo (120), and Busquets (112).
These numbers show De Jong’s status as not just a regular starter, but a difference-maker a player whose presence correlates strongly with team success.
Mark of a True Professional
In modern football, where squad rotation and injuries are commonplace, availability is one of the most underrated attributes.
Out of 334 Barcelona games since his arrival, De Jong has featured in 79.94% missing only around 20% of matches, mainly due to injury rather than tactical choice.
This level of consistency and reliability is rare, especially in a high-intensity position like central midfield. It’s no surprise, then, that every coach he’s worked under has relied heavily on his presence to maintain balance, rhythm, and stability.
Recent Form
De Jong’s influence remains as strong as ever. Between December 3, 2024, and April 12, 2025, he went on a personal record-breaking 25-game unbeaten run, showing his ability to anchor the midfield in some of Barcelona’s most challenging fixtures.
Interestingly, his longest winning streak, seven straight victories between September 24 and October 29, 2019, came during his early months at the club, symbolizing a debut season full of promise that he has since fulfilled.
A Strategic Move for the Future
By extending De Jong’s contract until 2029, Barcelona has secured not only one of their most trusted midfielders but also a leader and reference point for a new generation of players.
At 28, De Jong is entering the prime of his career experienced enough to guide younger teammates, yet still dynamic and hungry for success.
De Jong criticises media coverage
Part of that was the affirmation that de Jong was not only not hitting the heights expected of him on the pitch, but that he was the club’s highest earner off it. Something that de Jong denied to Sport.
“I’m not going to tell you what I’m going to earn, but they’ve always talked a lot about it, and I’ve said it before, that the figures have been exaggerated, that they never came out as they were. That has affected how people view me.”
At some points, relations between de Jong and the hierarchy at Barcelona were far from good.
However, he appears to be in a better place with his teammates now.
“I don’t feel undervalued by my teammates, coaches, or people at the club. It’s more down to you (the press). Everyone is entitled to their opinion.”
De Jong happy to remain at Barcelona
Despite using the moment to settle a few scores, the overall mood was celebratory, and de Jong was pleased to have pledged his future to Barcelona.
“As I’ve always said, as a child I always dreamed of playing for Barca, and now I’m achieving that dream. I want to stay here and win many titles.”
“I’ve always said, I wanted to be at Barcelona. I want to stay as long as possible. I feel good about the club and the city, as well as my teammates and board.”
