FC Barcelona has confirmed that superstar Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with the club that will keep him there until the end of the 2020-2021 season. The new Messi contract includes an astronomical $835 million (700 million euro) buyout clause, which virtually ensures that the Argentine forward will remain at the club through the end of the contract. (That is, unless we see an even more expensive transfer than PSG's signing of Neymar last summer, which will reportedly cost Paris Saint-Germain $528 million when it is paid in full.)
Lionel Messi has played his entire career for Barcelona, arriving from Newell's Old Boys in 2000 and spending the next 17 years with the club.
Lionel Messi first arrived at Barcelona at 13 years old, in 2000. The new Messi contract means he will be 34 years old by the time the deal is up. (Photo: Twitter)
At 30 years old, Messi is currently in his 14th season with the Barcelona first team. To date with the club, Messi has won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, five Copas del Rey, seven Spanish Super Cups, three European Super Cups, and three Club World Cups. With 30 titles, he is tied with Andrés Iniesta for most titles in Barcelona history.
"I'm very happy," Messi said at a press conference to announce the deal. "We had the agreement for some time and now it's finally been signed. I'm very happy to stay involved with this club. It's my home."
"It's my home."
Lionel Messi ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract with Barcelona until 2021. pic.twitter.com/OSeDsqVFCs— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 25, 2017
Under the new contract, Messi will earn a $107 million signing bonus and $667,000 a week for the next four and a half years. That means the star will earn $35 million in salary per year. Not bad to stay on your home turf.
"I always said I wanted to spend my entire career here, at home," Messi said. "My dream was to end my career here and we are on track for that."
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