Barcelona has reached an agreement in principle with Brazilian winger Raphinha to extend his contract until the summer of 2029, reflecting the club’s commitment to one of the core figures in manager Hansi Flick’s project, with formal signing set for the near future.
Blaugrana sporting director Deco confirmed that terms have been finalized between both parties, stating: “We have an agreement in principle until 2029, and it will be signed soon,” adding an extra year to the player’s existing deal, which was set to expire in June 2028.
Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds United in July 2022 for €58 million plus add-ons—bringing the total package to around €67 million—after turning down offers from several English clubs to fulfill his ambition of playing for the Catalan side.
His initial campaign at Camp Nou proved challenging as he fought for a regular place amid competition with Ousmane Dembélé and faced scrutiny over inconsistent form. Nevertheless, he netted 10 goals to help Barcelona claim the La Liga title and the Supercopa de España.
The Brazilian’s underlying figures improved in his second season despite injury setbacks and rotation, recording 10 goals and 13 assists across 37 appearances. However, his future remained the subject of speculation as Barcelona sought to raise funds and target a new left winger.
Raphinha’s career trajectory transformed dramatically following the arrival of Flick in the summer of 2024. The German coach granted him tactical freedom to operate between the wing and central attacking spaces. Raphinha responded with a stellar 2024–2025 campaign, tallying 34 goals and 22 assists in 57 matches as Barcelona completed a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España.
During that same season, Raphinha scored 13 goals in the UEFA Champions League and finished with 21 goal contributions in the tournament—equaling Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most goal contributions in a single Champions League campaign—before being named La Liga Player of the Season.
Although a series of injuries reduced his playing time last season, he maintained high efficiency, scoring 21 goals and providing 7 assists in 33 matches. He has launched the current campaign in exceptional fashion, recording 11 goals and 3 assists in his first 7 official appearances. Now serving as the team’s primary captain, he became the first Barcelona player to score in the opening five matches of a season since Luis Suárez in 1958.
Across his Barcelona tenure, Raphinha has amassed approximately 182 official appearances, scoring 84 goals and winning seven trophies: three La Liga titles, three Spanish Super Cups, and one Copa del Rey.
The new extension comes despite persistent interest from Saudi Pro League clubs. Raphinha received a lucrative offer in 2024—which he noted could have transformed his family’s life—followed by renewed interest last season and further inquiries from Al Hilal over the recent summer window. However, Raphinha turned down all approaches, emphasizing that Flick played a decisive role in his stay and reaffirming his desire to remain at Barcelona for the rest of his career.
