EXCLUSIVE: De Jong open to Barcelona exit after wages agreed

Steve Kay

Updated: 27 Sep 2024 05:42 CDT
3 min read

Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona — © IMAGO/FootballTransfers

Barcelona are willing to pay Frenkie de Jong his deferred wages—amounting to €18 million—on the condition that he agrees to leave the club in the summer, FootballTransfers has been told.

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The move is seen as part of the club's larger financial strategy, potentially opening the door for them to pursue marquee signings such as Erling Haaland or Viktor Gyokeres.

For the first time, De Jong, who has always maintained that Barcelona is his dream club and has shown no desire to leave, might be open to a departure if the wage issue is settled. The Dutch midfielder, now 27, deferred a significant portion of his salary during the pandemic to help the club manage its financial struggles.

However, with his contract running until 2026 and his status as the highest-paid player at the club, on €1.1 million a week including bonuses, Barcelona are seeking to ease their financial burden by moving him on.

Sources close to the player suggest that several factors are driving De Jong to reconsider his future at Barcelona.

Current ETV

Frenkie de Jong

M (C)

Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M (C)

Barcelona

ETV Range

€33.5M - €55.8M

A key reason is the emerging talent at the club, with several young midfielders being groomed to potentially take over his role. Players like Fermin Lopez (21), Marc Casado (21), Pedri (21), Guille Fernandez (16), Gavi (20), and Pablo Torre (21) have all demonstrated immense potential, creating a crowded competition for a starting position. Additionally, more experienced options like Dani Olmo (26) and up-and-coming Marc Bernal (17) are also viewed as long-term replacements.

© IMAGO - The likes of Pedri and Gavi are established starters already

De Jong has faced injury setbacks in recent seasons, which may also mean he will find it difficult to cement his place in the starting lineup.

Barcelona’s willingness to offload De Jong is largely driven by their ongoing financial issues, which have been well-documented. The Catalan giants have had to manage mounting debts and wage deferrals since the pandemic, and while de Jong’s presence has been valuable on the pitch, the opportunity to free up his significant wages is likely too tempting for the club to ignore.

De Jong joined Barcelona in 2019 for an initial fee worth €75 million. He has played 213 games in that time but has regularly failed to extend his match appearances beyond more than 30 in a season.