FC Barcelona have announced the contract renewal of Fermin Lopez.
FC Barcelona have announced the contract renewal of one of their hottest young prospects.
The club revealed the news by sending an announcement e-mail to members of the press and using their Twitter account.
“The Andalusian midfielder has reached an agreement with the Club to extend his contract until June 30, 2027 with a termination clause of €400 million ($432 million),” the e-mail began, in reference to highly-rated midfielder Fermin Lopez.
The Catalans explained that Lopez “signed his new contract this Tuesday morning” with the manager responsible for youth football Joan Soler, the president of that area Jose Ramon Alexanco, and new sporting director Deco all present at an event held in the offices of the Joan Gamper CT.
Fermin has been on Barca’s books since 2016, which is when he joined La Masia from the Real Betis academy similar to “best friend” Gavi.
Unlike reigning Golden Boy Gavi, however, his trajectory to Xavi Hernandez’s first team squad has been neither easy nor straightforward.
Last term, he was sent out on loan to third-tier Linares where he scored 12 goals in 37 league appearances.
In preseason this summer, however, on his return to the Barca fold, he was one of a select group of young reserve players invited to train with the seniors.
Fermin impressed Xavi enough to be invited on the friendly tour of the United States, and truly revealed himself to the football world with a riotous goal and assist display against Real Madrid who were thumped 3-0 in an Arlington, Texas edition of El Clasico.
Following this performance, a light was shone on Fermin’s contractual situation at the time which had him free to walk from the club in mid-2024 if not tied down to fresh terms.
The possibility of this potential slip up occurring has now been eradicated with today’s key development, however, with Fermin having also made his La Liga debut with a bit part towards the end of the thrilling 4-3 victory over Villarreal on Sunday.
Though his deal might not boast the €1 billion ($1.08 billion) release clause that those of the others contain, Fermin is highly thought of at the club as one of the faces of its future alongside Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and possibly Noah Darvich.
In the coming weeks, teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal should also put pen to paper on his first professional contract which comes with that same PSG-proof 10-figure amount.
An unexpected injury Pedri picked up in training last week might grant opportunities for Fermin to earn minutes over the next month and a half at least.