Barcelona reach initial agreement with Raphinha on contract extension until 2030

Barcelona have reached an initial agreement with captain Raphinha over a new contract that is expected to keep him at the club until June 2030.

The agreement was confirmed by Barcelona sporting director Deco during the club’s general assembly. Raphinha’s current deal is due to expire in the summer of 2028.

“We have an initial agreement to renew Raphinha’s contract and it will be signed soon,” Deco said.

The new arrangement is set to extend the Brazil international’s stay by a further four years, with the contract running until June 2030.

Raphinha spoke about his future at Barcelona on Friday in an interview with Spanish radio station RAC. The 28-year-old said he hoped to remain at the club for the rest of his career.

“I hope to continue being a Barcelona player until the end of my career,” he said. “I plan to sign a new contract with the club and I hope to stay here until I retire.”

Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds United in the summer of 2022. He has since made 184 appearances for the club, scoring 86 goals and providing 62 assists.

He became Barcelona’s first-choice captain following the German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s move on loan to Ajax in the Netherlands.

Raphinha is also the leading scorer in La Liga this season, with nine goals. He is two goals clear of Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.

Barcelona lead La Liga with 18 points after winning all six of their matches so far.

Their next fixture is against Sevilla on Saturday in the seventh round of the Spanish top flight. The proposed extension for Raphinha comes as the club prepare for that match, with the captain currently leading their scoring charts in the league and playing a central role on and off the pitch.

Raphinha’s current contract remains in place until the summer of 2028, but Deco’s comments indicate that the two parties have agreed the main terms of a longer commitment. The formal signing is expected to take place soon, although no specific date was given.