Raphinha Commits Future to Barcelona with New Deal Until 2028

Raphinha has signed a new contract with Barcelona. He will stay with the team until June 2028 after a great season where he helped them win three major trophies.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The 28-year-old Brazilian winger added one more year to his contract, extending it past the previous 2027 end date. Raphinha‘s new deal follows a career-best season where he scored 34 goals and created 25 assists across 56 matches in all competitions. His contributions helped Barcelona win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Supercopa this season. Raphinha’s form in the UEFA Champions League was especially outstanding, with 13 goals and nine assists in just 14 matches. This broke Lionel Messi’s record for goal contributions in the tournament for Barcelona. With new manager Hansi Flick at the helm, the club know they can build their left-wing play around one of the best forwards in the world. They now boast a devastating attack with Raphinha complemented by club captain Robert Lewandowski and young star Lamine Yamal.

DECISION SIGNALS CLUB’S PLANS

Raphinha’s extension is another sign that Barcelona want to secure long-term futures for their best players, with other big deals expected soon for Lamine Yamal, Eric Garcia, and Inigo Martínez. Even Raphinha was close to leaving Camp Nou last summer, but he has gone from turning up to convince the management that he is their most indispensable player. His form has placed him in contention for the Ballon d’Or as well.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Although the transfer window is open, Barcelona are not expected to make a lot of new signings as they focus on extending current players’ contracts. After they finished the season by completing a historic treble, it is their La Liga rivals who need to improve their teams. The Catalans will aim to continue their European dominance by going one better in the Champions League and defending their domestic titles. It looks like the start of a golden era for a Barcelona side whose last treble-winning campaign was back in 2015 when Messi was the club captain. Their next official fixture will be in the Spanish Supercopa where they will defend their newly-won title.