Barcelona sporting director Deco noted earlier this week that their focus is currently on contract extensions rather than January signings, and that came true on Thursday. Both left back Gerard Martin and central defender Ronald Araujo were seen at the club office and have signed new contracts.
Martin's deal is said to have been agreed some time ago, and the 22-year-old will extend his deal until 2028 for a fee of €100 million, according to MD. He has undergone rapid development; Last season he only won a starting spot for Barca Atletic, after which he caught the attention of Hansi Flick this preseason. Since then he has been a regular part of the team, with eighteen appearances, eight starts and two assists.
A few hours later it was Araujo's turn. After looking like he might leave early last week amid interest from Juventus, a turnaround in talks over a new deal made progress last week and was converted into a signature in Barcelona on Thursday afternoon. Araujo and his family had lunch with President Joan Laporta after the signing.
It is believed that Araujo's deal is valid until 2031, but there are many reports claiming that this is a temporary solution with Araujo. His contract expired in the summer of 2026 and Barcelona did not want to be cornered by a sale next summer. The trade-off, however, is that Barcelona have reportedly included an 'affordable' release clause in his new contract, allowing Araujo to make a decision on his future in the summer and potentially allowing Barcelona to secure a higher fee for the 25-year-old. .
Last summer it looked like Araujo would also leave, but interest from Bayern Munich waned and Manchester United were deterred by an injury that kept him out until the end of 2024. Now that Pau Cubarsi was assured of a starting place, Araujo hopes to secure the title. role alongside him ahead of Inigo Martinez until the end of the season.