OFFICIAL: Barca renew Gavi's contract until 2026, with €1-billion buy out clause

Barcelona confirmed on Wednesday that teenage midfielder Gavi has extended his contract at the club until 2026.

Here’s the club’s official statement:

“FC Barcelona and the player Pablo Páez Gavira, ‘Gavi’, have reached an agreement to extend his contract to 30 June 2026. The buy out clause is set at 1 billion euros.

“The event for Gavi’s new contract extension will take place on Thursday 15 September at 6pm CEST in an open event at Spotify Camp Nou.”

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Barcelona have reached an agreement with Gavi over a new four-year contract until 2026, with a buyout of €1billion - the joint-highest in world football.

The 18-year-old's previous deal was set to expire next summer and a host of Europe's top clubs had reached out to Gavi's camp to express signing the midfielder - including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Barcelona had struck an agreement with the teenager earlier this year, but had to postpone the deal as the Spanish club were financially unable to complete on the contract.

However, the new deal has now been confirmed by the club and Gavi becomes the latest young star to commit his future to Barca, after they tied-down Ronald Araujo, Ansu Fati, and Pedri to long-term contracts.

The historic €1billion buyout also matches the same amount as his team-mates release clauses, as well as Real Madrid's Karim Benzema.

A public presentation is now set for Thursday to celebrate the youngster's new contract, who's been a first-team regular under Xavi for Barcelona this season, starting all five of the club's LaLiga games.

Gavi was plucked from Real Betis' youth team in 2015 and has made a quick ascension to the Spanish giant's first team.

After just two appearances from Barcelona's B team, he made his first-team debut for the club in the 2-1 win over Getafe in August 2021, aged 17 years and 24 days. Making him the fourth youngest player in the club's history.

He'd go on to become the third youngest goal-scorer for the cub in the Blaugranes 3-2 win over Elche last December, and has already become an established member of the Spanish national side.

Making his debut for Spain in October last year, Gavi has notched up 10 caps for Luis Enrique's side and regularly donned the number 9 shirt for his country.

His goal against the Czech Republic in June made him the youngest player to score for the Spanish national team at 17 years and 304 days.

Barcelona hope that Gavi and fellow teenager Pedri can replicate the famous midfields of the past and the pair have been likened to current boss Xavi and his former successful midfield partner Andres Iniesta.