Barcelona has established a buyout clause of 500 million euros ($557 million) for midfielder Marc Bernal and has extended the 17-year-old’s contract until June 2026, according to a statement from the LaLiga club on Monday.
Once Bernal ages out of the Under-19 category in 2026, he will have the option to extend his contract for an additional three years.
The talented young player sustained a rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a match against Rayo Vallecano last month, requiring him to leave the field in the closing minutes of the game.
Having come through Barcelona’s youth academy, Bernal has made three league appearances since debuting in the senior team’s opening match of the LaLiga season against Valencia.
Barcelona remarked in their statement, “Marc Bernal was, until his unfortunate injury, the huge sensation at the start of the season.” They added that manager Hansi Flick was impressed with Bernal’s potential after he joined the team for pre-season training and believed he was ready for the next level.
The club is optimistic about Bernal’s future, considering him a significant investment, which is reflected in the new contract agreement.