Barcelona could lose Frenkie de Jong to Arsenal for free in 2026

Financial struggles put Dutch star’s future at Camp Nou in doubt

Frenkie de Jong could leave Barcelona on a free transfer in 2026, with Arsenal reportedly planning to pounce if the Spanish giants fail to renew his contract. According to Fichajes, the Gunners intend to wait until the end of the 2024–25 season to offer the Dutch midfielder a pre-contract agreement next June.

Barcelona’s Financial Strain Continues

Despite reinforcing their squad, Barcelona remain hampered by La Liga’s Financial Fair Play restrictions. Player registrations have often been delayed, and recent signings including Marcus Rashford and Joan García were only cleared thanks to outgoing transfers and the long-term injury of Marc-André ter Stegen, which freed up wage space.

This financial juggling has already cost Barça key names. Defender Iñigo Martínez left for Al-Nassr on a free earlier this summer, and similar circumstances could now put De Jong’s future in jeopardy.

Contract Talks at a Standstill

De Jong’s current deal expires in June 2026, but negotiations to extend it have been ongoing since last year without success. Behind the scenes, Barcelona are still working to convince the 28-year-old to stay, but the risk of losing another first-team regular for nothing looms large a scenario new coach Hansi Flick would be eager to avoid.

Key Numbers

Last season, De Jong featured in 46 matches for Barcelona across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing two assists, remaining a crucial part of the team’s midfield engine.