Barcelona are preparing to tie Marc Bernal to the club until 2031, with the 19-year-old midfielder set to receive a contract carrying a €500 million release clause.
An agreement has been reached in principle and only the formal signing and announcement remain. The club and Bernal’s representatives are working on the timing, with the ceremony potentially taking place this week in Barcelona, between Tuesday’s match against Galatasaray and Saturday’s meeting with Real Betis.
Bernal is expected to sign in president Joan Laporta’s office, alongside sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste and members of the football department including director Deco and coordinator Bojan Krkic. Discussions over the extension moved swiftly, reflecting the willingness on both sides to secure the midfielder’s future.
A rapid rise after a long absence
The player from Berga has already experienced an unusually eventful start to senior football. Hansi Flick handed him his first-team debut when Bernal was 17, and the youngster appeared in each of Barcelona’s opening three La Liga fixtures of the 2024-25 campaign.
A serious knee injury then interrupted his progress. Barcelona had previously revised his deal through 2029 following his breakthrough and the injury setback, before Bernal returned on 14 September 2025 after 383 days out.
Since recovering, he has become a more regular part of the first-team picture. Last season he featured in 33 competitive matches, accumulating 1,313 minutes. In the current campaign, he has played in all nine fixtures and recorded 338 minutes.
Bernal’s development has also been aided by the presence of Rodrigo Hernández, whose experience has provided a valuable reference point for the young holding midfielder as Barcelona look to build around another home-grown talent.
