Brian Farinas: Barcelona Midfielder's Contract Renewal After De Jong Injury

Brian Farinas was packing his bags not long ago. Girona looked set to be his next stop, Barcelona ready to cash in on a La Masia midfielder who seemed blocked from the first-team path.

That plan has been ripped up.

From exit door to new deal

Journalist Matteo Moretto now reports that Farinas will stay at Barcelona this summer, with the club and the player’s camp already working on a contract renewal.

The 20-year-old, who even wore the armband for Barça Atletic at times last season, had been on the verge of a permanent move to Estadi Montilivi earlier in the window. Girona, relegated from La Liga last season, were prepared to put around €1.5 million on the table for 50% of his economic rights, a classic shared-bet operation for a talent on the fringes of the champions’ squad.

For weeks, it felt like a matter of time.

Then Frenkie de Jong went down.

De Jong’s injury flips the script

The Netherlands midfielder’s injury at the 2026 FIFA World Cup changed the landscape at Barcelona in an instant. Once it became clear De Jong would be out for a significant spell, Hansi Flick intervened.

The new Barça coach decided he wanted Farinas close, not gone. He kept the youngster in his plans for pre-season, determined to watch him up close before approving any sale.

Farinas took his chance. Flick has used him consistently through the summer, and the midfielder has made himself hard to ignore. Energy, personality, end product – enough to convince the staff that he is worth keeping around in a squad suddenly short of midfield certainty.

The consequence is brutal for one of his peers. Barcelona have opted to retain Farinas and instead move on Tommy Marques, the academy midfielder who made his first-team debut last season and is now set to leave the club.

La Masia product rewarded

Farinas is no overnight story. He joined La Masia from Villarreal back in 2018 and has spent eight years climbing through the ranks. His current deal runs until 2028, but with his status shifting from sale candidate to first-team option, Barça are already working on a renewal to adjust his position.

Last season, he delivered five goals and seven assists in 33 appearances for Barça Atletic – solid numbers for a midfielder and enough to hint at a player with more than just tidy build-up play in his locker.

A few weeks ago, Barcelona were ready to split his rights and let Girona take half the bet. Now, with De Jong sidelined and Flick impressed, the club have decided the gamble is worth taking themselves.

Farinas stays. His next step will be taken in blaugrana.