According to Marca, Yamal has agreed to a salary increase with Barcelona, but it will not take effect for several more months.

There is no doubt that Yamal is one of the best players in the world, arguably even the very best. For this reason, he remains the player with the highest economic value in the Barcelona locker room, with Rodri and Raphinha closely behind him in their upcoming contract renewals. However, the Catalan international will soon widen the gap further in the income rankings, as a salary increase clause already agreed upon in his 2025 contract has not yet been implemented and will not take effect immediately, requiring a few more months.

Yamal completed his contract renewal with Barcelona at the end of May 2025. The Catalan winger, valued at over 200 million euros by specialized websites, signed a deal through June 2031 and secured a substantial package, becoming the highest-paid player in the Barcelona squad. The 19-year-old from Rocafonda, including fixed salary, performance bonuses, signing fees, incentives, and potential future Ballon d'Or bonuses, is expected to earn over 20 million euros net annually.

However, Rodri is close behind him in terms of salary, and Raphinha will soon follow suit. Barcelona's salary cap stands at 582 million euros, and the club is already close to the limit at approximately 581 million euros. Barcelona made significant efforts to secure the midfielder from Madrid last summer, making him one of the highest-earning players in the squad, with a fixed salary close to Yamal's. Raphinha, meanwhile, is awaiting the finalization of his contract renewal, which will extend through 2030, and his economic terms will also improve significantly, placing him among the top three earners in the team.

Frenkie de Jong, Koundé, and Ter Stegen are among the other players with the best contract terms in the Barcelona squad. Lewandowski left the Catalan club last summer.

Regardless, Yamal remains a strong candidate for the Ballon d'Or, and he will soon widen the gap further on Barcelona's salary list, as his contract still includes a scheduled improvement. When he renewed his contract in 2025, Barcelona and the player already agreed to another salary increase in 2027.

Rising Salary Costs

Barcelona is well aware of the necessity of this salary increase. One reason is that the international player, who has already played 159 games for Barcelona, scoring 57 goals and providing 58 assists, has seen his value and influence soar recently, and his salary must reflect his status and role. As it stands, he is one of Barcelona's most important public figures and one of the team's most decisive and breakthrough players.

Barcelona's management anticipates that the team's total salary costs will rise to 636 million euros this season and accepts that the player's remuneration needs to be updated in accordance with the terms already agreed upon. However, by the time Yamal's adjustment is actually implemented, the original estimates may already be outdated, especially if he wins the Ballon d'Or.

There is no concern within Barcelona. The club knows that this increase is planned and has been agreed upon, but "it's not the right time yet." Before then, Barcelona still needs to resolve other contracts, such as the renewals of Raphinha, Esparta, and Bernal. Nevertheless, this matter remains a priority for the club as it concerns their core player, and Barcelona wants him to remain satisfied and happy.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com