According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona's sporting director Deco is working hard to secure the core of the current squad, ensuring the team remains competitive for years to come.

After successfully extending contracts for nine key players last summer, Barcelona is now preparing to finalize contract extensions for Raphinha, Marc Bernal, and Xavi Espart. Currently, only goalkeeper Szczesny's contract will expire this summer.

Barcelona fans are currently celebrating. Not only is the team leading La Liga, winning every match and displaying attractive football, and achieving a dominant victory in their opening Champions League match, but this Barcelona squad also has the potential for sustained success. After securing head coach Hans Flick through at least June 2028 last summer and strengthening the squad with high-quality players to compete for all titles, Deco is now focused on fully locking down Barcelona's player roster. Last year, the club successfully completed contract extensions for nine players.

These players include core members who form Barcelona's backbone, such as Cubarsí, Eric, Pedri, and Yamal. In fact, on May 22, 2025, Barcelona officially announced Raphinha's contract extension through June 2028. However, following the explosive start from the Brazilian winger, leading La Liga's goal scorers with 12 goals and scoring 14 goals in eight matches, Barcelona quickly offered him a new contract as the new captain.

Indeed, Deco announced to the delegation at the September general meeting that Raphinha would extend his contract for two more years, with the new deal running through June 2030. Barcelona will officially announce the extension for the "killer" in the coming weeks. If he fulfills this new contract, Raphinha will end his time at Barcelona approaching his 34th birthday.

Meanwhile, Barcelona will also announce contract extensions for two very promising players: Marc Bernal and rising star Xavi Espart. Espart has been a surprise this season; as a right-back, he has pushed Balde and Cancelo into backup left-back roles.

Before the international break, Barcelona moved to secure Hamza Abdulkareem. The 18-year-old Egyptian striker has competed in the World Cup. He had an outstanding preseason under Flick, and with Bayern Munich eyeing his €15 million release clause, Barcelona management quickly reacted, securing his contract extension through June 2030 and raising his release clause to €150 million, thereby blocking major clubs interested in the striker who is expected to play an important role for Barcelona in the years to come.

Heading into 2026, Barcelona ensured the retention of Fermín López, another key player in Flick's system, early in the year. The midfielder from El Campillo signed a contract through June 30, 2031, on January 30. In fact, Fermín, like Yamal, Eric, and new signings Gordon, Adeyemi, and Bissouma, now have five-year contracts.

Once Raphinha's, Bernal's, and Espart's extensions are secured, and with Gerard Martín and Fariñas expected to follow soon, Deco will have fully locked down Barcelona's entire squad. Indeed, at that point, only one player's contract will expire next June: Szczesny. After signing a one-year extension last summer, the Polish goalkeeper will end his Barcelona career next summer. Livaković, brought in last summer through June 2030, was brought in not only to strengthen Barcelona's goal but also to ensure a reliable replacement when Joan García is injured.

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