Lamine Yamal has been in Barcelona ever since he was aged seven and now the 16-year-old has signed a contract extension with the club that will see him stay with the Catalonia giants until the end of June 2026. The striker put pen to paper this Monday morning in an event witnessed by club president Joan Laporta and vice president Rafa Yuste. Anderson Luis de Souza, the director in charge of sports, and Joan Soler, the director of youth football, were also present. The 16-year-old has whizzed up through the youth ranks and is regarded as one of the hottest properties to come out of La Masia in recent years.

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He made his league debut against Betis in April this year just at 15 years of age with the Barcelona senior team. Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has since then been using his services more and more and even involved him in the preseason tour squad. Lamine then became the youngest-ever starter for FC Barcelona in a game against Cadiz this season, and against Royal Antwerp, he became the second youngest player ever to appear in the UEFA Champions League competition. 

Despite Lamine being a teenager, he has already won his first international cap for Spain. He was featured in a game against Georgia in which he made history as the youngest player ever to play for the ‘La Roja’ and the youngest ever goalscorer. The current deal that the young star has signed with Barcelona is the longest he can have at the moment given his age but plans for a longer-term contract are already in place. Lamine’s extension also contains a buyout clause set at 1 billion euros - the same as those for Ronald Araujo, Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati.  The Barcelona club's official statement that was released after the contract signing said: “FC Barcelona and Lamine Yamal have reached an agreement on a new contract binding the player to the club until 30 June 2026, with the buyout clause set at one billion euros.” Lamine has already made eight La Liga appearances for the Spanish powerhouse and the future is bright in regards to his football career. 

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(Image: FC Barcelona)