Lamine Yamal will wear the iconic 10 jersey, according to Barcelona’s official confirmation. The young star’s contract has also been significantly extended. With a new six-year contract that will keep him with the team until 2031, the 18-year-old has locked down one of their best players for the near future.
A special video and a tribute mural in Yamal’s hometown of Rocafonda in Mataró, just outside of Barcelona, were used to make the announcement. Previously worn by Ansu Fati and, more famously, by club legends Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, the talented forward now wears the number 10 shirt. Yamal talked to the club’s media after the renewal, calling it the realization of a lifelong dream.
“It’s a dream since I was young, and I’m very happy, with all of my family here. It’s a dream.”
“The club is my life. I’ve been here since I was seven years old, it’s my home. To get to the first team from La Masia is a dream, now I’m achieving that dream, and I have to keep working.”
The teen highlighted his focus on winning and ongoing development as he looked to the future. “To win, always to win, to enjoy myself and to continue growing. But above all to win.”
“[To the fans, my message is that] I’m really looking forward to playing at the new stadium. We’ll enjoy ourselves a lot, and we will win, no doubt.”
With a whopping €1 billion release clause in his new contract, Yamal successfully fended off interest from European powerhouses like Paris Saint-Germain, who reportedly expressed interest in him last season when he was just 16.
With an annual salary of €8 million and performance-based bonuses that are anticipated to rise as he advances, he now ranks among Barcelona’s highest paid players.
This might not be his last contract extension before 2031, considering his current trajectory. There have already been comparisons to Lionel Messi, particularly with regard to contract renegotiations and consistent performance.
Jorge Mendes, Yamal’s agent, is anticipated to have regular discussions with the club in the upcoming years if Yamal keeps improving.
