Barcelona announce shock new contract and Torres boost in one go

In a surprising announcement, Barca confirmed a new contract for Umtiti has paved the way for Torres’ registration.

Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has signed a new contract to tie himself down to the Catalan club until June 2026.

The 28-year-old Frenchman has been in and out of the team since his €25 million arrival from Lyon in 2016, making only 133 appearances amid a series of regular injury setbacks.

As the club struggle to balance the books, Umtiti was one of the stars expected to leave. However, while he has barely played under new coach Xavi, he has agreed to lower his salary in exchange for a new contract.

FC Barcelona and @samumtiti have reached an agreement to extend the latter’s contract until 30 June 2026. The French defender is reducing a part of the salary that he was due to receive in the year and a half remaining on his contract.

More info 👉 https://t.co/0UzCLewHDM pic.twitter.com/hNdmR2iBBP

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 10, 2022

Barcelona can finally register Torres

This announcement ensures that Umtiti won’t leave Camp Nou and frees up space in Barca’s salary cap to register new €55 million signing Ferran Torres with La Liga.

Barcelona had been looking for ways to register the former Manchester City forward. Not even Philippe Coutinho’s loan exit to Aston Villa was enough, with the English side paying 65% of the Brazilian’s wages.

But it appears the club’s director of football, Mateu Alemany, has finally found a solution.

Through this contract extension, FC Barcelona will be able to increase its ‘financial fair play’ quota and thus register @FerranTorres20 with the Spanish Professional Football League. https://t.co/M49mXejym3 pic.twitter.com/oJcFR8esbv

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 10, 2022